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THE 


LITURGICAL   YEAR 


ADVENT 


THE 


LITURGICAL  YEAR. 


VERY  REV.  DOM  PROSPER  GUERANGER, 


ABBOT   OF  SOLESMES. 


ffratwlateb  from  %  Jxenxfc, 

BY  THE 

EEV.    DOM    LAUKENCE    SHEPHERD, 

MONK  OF  THE  ENGLISH-BENEDICTINE  CONGBEGATION. 


ADVENT. 

SECOND   EDITION. 


DUBLIN: 
JAMES    DUFFY,    15,   WELLINGTON-QUAY; 

AND 

22  PATERNOSTER-ROW,  LONDON. 

1870. 

UNIVERSITY-LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT  CHAPEL  HiLL 


DUBLIN : 

$rini£b  bu  |.  m.  ©'£ooIe  £  Sou, 

6  <fc  7,  Great  Brunswick-street. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  name  of  Dom  Gueranger,  Abbot  of  Soles- 
mes,  needs  no  recommendation.  He  has  been 
long  known,  both  in  his  own  country  and  in 
England,  by  his  pious  and  edifying  Works. 

The  Work  which  is  now  put  within  the  reach 
of  those,  who  use  only  our  own  language,  is  truly 
Benedictine  in  its  aim  and  spirit.  The  Sons  of 
Saint  Dominic  have  attached  themselves  to  the 
scientific  Theology  of  the  Church,  and  their  mis- 
sion is  to  cry  aloud  in  the  streets  as  Preachers, 
and  to  stand  in  the  breach  as  defenders  of  the 
Faith.  The  Sons  of  Saint  Benedict  have  a  more 
tranquil  mission,  within  the  walls  of  the  Sanc- 
tuary, and  on  the  steps  of  the  Altar.  The 
Annee  Liturgique  is  the  fruit  of  this  interior 
and  peaceful  spirit.  It  is  a  prolonged  medita- 
tion on  the  wonderful  order  of  Divine  Worship, 
which  has  formed  itself  around  the  Presence 
of  the  Incarnate  Word.     It  is  the  adoration  of 


*>/* 


C?  4^3& 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

the  Father  in  Spirit  and  in  Truth  in  the  circle 
of  His  Divine  acts  for  the  redemption  of  the 
world.  The  Calendar  of  the  Church  renews 
before  our  spiritual  and  intellectual  vision, — it 
may  almost  be  said,  before  our  eyes  of  Sense, — 
the  Suprem  e  Worship  of  the  Ever  Blessed  Trinity, 
in  the  Communion  of  the  Saints.  Into  this  in- 
terior world  of  heavenly  beauty,  splendour,  and 
peace,  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church  admits  us  day 
by  day.  And  the  Abbot  of  Solesmes  has  ren- 
dered a  signal  help  to  all  who  love  this  prelude 
of  a  better  world,  and  this  avenue  to  the  Vision 
of  peace,  by  his  beautiful  and  spiritual  com- 
mentary on  our  Seasons  and  Solemnities.  Our 
thanks  are  also  due  to  the  Eev.  Father  Shep- 
herd, O.S.B.,  for  the  patience  and  care  with 
which  he  has  undertaken  this  Translation. 

London, 

Feast  of  the  Maternity 

of  the  B.  V.  Mary,  1867. 

%  Henry  Edward, 
Archbishop  of  Westminster. 


CONTENTS. 


THE  LITURGICAL  YEAR. 


PAGE 


General  Preface, 1 


ADVENT. 

Chapter  I. —  The  History  of  Advent,  .  .  .23 
Chap.  II.  —  The  Mystery  of  Advent,  .  .  .31 
Chap.  III.  —  Practice  during  Advent,  ...  38 
Chap.  IV.  —  Morning  and  Night  Prayers  for  Advent,  45 
Chap.  V.  —  On  Hearing  Mass,  during  Advent,  .  62 
Chap.  VI.  —  On  Holy  Communion,  during  Advent,  97 
Chap.  VII.  —  On  the  Office  of  Sunday's  Vespers,  dur- 
ing Advent, 104 

Chap.  VIII. —  On  the  Office  of  Compline,  during  Ad- 
vent  114 


Proper  of  the  Time, 125 

The  First  Sunday  of  Advent,       .       .       .       .127 

Mass, 130 

Vespers,       . 138 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Monday  of  the  1st  Week  of  Advent,      .        .        .141 

Tuesday, 144 

Wednesday, 148 

Thursday, 153 

Friday, 157 

Saturday, 161 

The  Second  Sunday  of  Advent,    .        .        .       .165 
Mass,  .........    169 

Vespers, 175 

Monday  of  the  2nd  Week  of  Advent,    .        .        .177 

Tuesday, 183 

Wednesday, 188 

Thursday, 193 

Friday,    .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .197 

Saturday, 202 

The  Third  Sunday  of  Advent,      ....  206 

Mass,   .                 209 

Vespers, 215 

Monday  of  the  3rd  Week  of  Advent,     .        .        .217 

Tuesday, 221 

Wednesday  in  Ember  Week, .        .        ...  227 

Thursday, 233 

Friday  in  Ember  Week,         .        .        .        .        .  237 

Saturday  in  Ember  Week, 240 

The  Fourth  Sunday  of  Advent,   ....  243 

Mass,   .........  246 

Vespers, 251 

Monday  of  the  4th  Week  of  Advent,     .        .        .  253 

Tuesday,          .        . 257 

Wednesday, 261 

Thursday,        . 265 

Friday, 270 


CONTENTS,  IX 

PAGE 

Proper  of  the  Saints, 277 

November  30.  Saint  Andrew,  Apostle,     .        .        .  282 

December    1 310 

„           2.  Saint  Bibiana,  Virgin  and  Martyr,     .  318 
„           3.  Saint    Francis     Xavier,     Confessor, 

Apostle  of  the  Indies,    .        .        .  324 
„           4.  Saint  Peter  Chrysologus,  Bishop  and 

Doctor  of  the  Church,    .        .        .  333 

Same  Day.  Saint  Barbara,  Virgin  and  Martyr,  341 
„           5.  Commemoration    of     Saint     Sabas, 

Abbot, 351 

„  6.  Saint  Nicholas,  Bishop  of  Myra,  and 

Confessor,      .        .        .        .        .355 
„  7.  Saint  Ambrose,  Bishop  and  Doctor 

of  the  Church,       .         .        .        .371 
„  8.  The  Immaculate  Conception  of 

the  Blessed  Virgin,  .        .        .  393 

First  Vespers,     ....  406 

Mass, 415 

Second  Vespers,         .        .        .  424 
„            9.  Second  day  within  the  Octave  of  the 

Immaculate  Conception,        .        .  431 
„          10.  Third  day  within  the  Octave,     .        .  435 
Same  Day.  Saint  Melchiades,  Pope  and  Mar- 
tyr,        441 

„  The  Translation  of  the  holy  House 

of  Loretto, 443 

„          Saint  Eulalia,  Virgin  and  Martyr,  448 

„          11.  Saint  Damasus,  Pope  and  Confessor,  461 

„          12.  Fifth  day  within  the  Octave,     .        .  468 

„          13.  Saint  Lucy,  Virgin  and  Martyr,         .  473 

Same  Day.  Saint  Odilia,  Virgin  and  Abbess, .  478 

„          14.  Seventh  day  within  the  Octave,         .  488 

„         15.  Octave  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  492 


x  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

December  16.  Saint  Eusebius,  Bishop  of  Vercelli  and 

Martyr,      .        .        .  .        .499 

„         17.  The  commencement  of  the  Great  An- 

tiphons, 508 

Same  Day.  0  Sapientia !    .                .        .        .  509 

„  18.  0  Adona'i! .512 

Same  Day.  The    Expectation    of    the    Blessed 

Virgin  Mary, 513 

„          19.  0  Radix  Jesse ! 516 

„         20.  0  Clavis  David ! 518 

„         21.  Saint  Thomas,  Apostle, ....  520 

Same  Day.  0  Oriens  ! 526 

„          22.  0  Rex  Gentium ! 528 

„          23.  0  Emmanuel !        .         .        .         .         .  530 

„         24.  Christmas  Eve, 532 

Mass, 538 


THE 

LITURGICAL  YEAR. 

GENERAL  PREFACE. 

PRAYER  is  man's  richest  boon.  It  is  his  light,  his 
nourishment,  and  his  very  life,  for  it  brings  him  into 
communication  with  God,  who  is  light?  nourishment? 
and  life?  But,  of  ourselves,  we  know  not  what  we 
should  pray  for  as  we  ought  ;4  we  must  needs,  there- 
fore, address  ourselves  to  Jesus  Christ,  and  say  to 
him  as  the  Apostles  did :  Lord,  teach  us  how  to  pray.5 
He  alone  can  make  the  dumb  speak,  and  give  elo- 
quence to  the  mouths  of  children ;  and  this  prodigy 
he  effects  by  sending  his  Spirit  of  grace,  and  of 
prayers,6  who  delights  in  helping  our  infirmity, 
ashing  for  us  with  unspeakable  groanings.7 

Now,  it  is  in  the  holy  Church  that  this  divine 
Spirit  dwells.  He  came  down  to  her  as  an  impetuous 
wind,  and  manifested  himself  to  her  under  the  ex- 
pressive symbol  of  tongues  of  fire.  Ever  since  that 
day  of  Pentecost,  he  has  dwelt  in  this  his  favoured 
Spouse.  He  is  the  principle  of  everything  that  is  in 
her.     He  it  is  that  prompts  her  prayers,  her  desires, 

i  St.  John,  viii.  12.  4  Rom.  viii.  26.  6  Zach.  xii.  10. 

2  Ibid.  vi.  35.  5  St.  Luke,  xi.  1.  r  Rom.  viii.  26. 

3  Ibid.  xiv.  6. 


2  GENERAIi  PREFACE. 

her  canticles  of  praise,  her  enthusiasm,  and  even  her 
mourning.  Hence,  her  Prayer  is  as  uninterrupted 
as  her  existence.  Day  and  night  is  her  voice  sound- 
ing sweetly  on  the  ear  of  her  divine  Spouse,  and  her 
words  are  ever  finding  a  welcome  in  his  heart. 

At  one  time,  under  the  impulse  of  that  Spirit, 
which  animated  the  admirable  Psalmist  and  the  Pro- 
phets, she  takes  the  subject  of  her  canticles  from  the 
Books  of  the  Old  Testament ;  at  another,  showing 
herself  to  be  the  daughter  and  sister  of  the  holy 
Apostles,  she  intones  the  canticles  written  in  the 
Books  of  the  New  Covenant;  and  finally, remember- 
ing that  she,  too,  has  had  given  to  her  the  trumpet 
and  harp,  she  at  times  gives  way  to  the  Spirit  which 
animates  her,  and  sings  her  own  new  canticle} 
From  these  three  sources  comes  the  divine  element 
which  we  call  the  Liturgy, 

The  Prayer  of  the  Church  is,  therefore,  the  most 
pleasing  to  the  ear  and  heart  of  God,  and  therefore 
the  most  efficacious  of  all  prayers.  Happy,  then,  is 
he  who  prays  with  the  Church,  and  unites  his  own 
petitions  with  those  of  this  Spouse,  who  is  so  dear  to 
her  Lord,  that  he  gives  her  all  she  asks.  It  was  for 
this  reason  that  our  Blessed  Saviour  taught  us  to  say 
our  Father,  and  not  my  Father ;  give  us,  forgive  us, 
deliver  us,  and  not  give  me,  forgive  me,  deliver  me. 
Hence,  we  find  that,  for  upwards  of  a  thousand  years, 
the  Church,  who  prays  in  her  temples  seven  times  in 
the  day,  and  once  again  during  the  night,  did  not 
pray  alone.     The  people  kept  her  company,  and  fed 

1  Ps.  cxliii.  9. 


GENERAL  PREFACE.  8 

themselves  with  delight  on  the  manna  which  is 
hidden  under  the  words  and  mysteries  of  the  divine 
Liturgy.  Thus  initiated  into  the  sacred  Cycle  of  the 
mysteries  of  the  Christian  year,  the  faithful,  atten- 
tive to  the  teachings  of  the  Spirit,  came  to  know  the 
secrets  of  eternal  life ;  and,  without  any  farther  pre- 
paration, a  Christian  was  not  unfrequently  chosen  by 
the  Bishops  to  be  a  Priest,  or  even  a  Bishop,  that  he 
might  go  and  pour  out  on  the  people  the  treasures 
of  wisdom  and  love,  which  he  had  drunk  in  at  the 
very  fountain-head. 

For  whilst  Prayer  said  in  union  with  the  Church 
is  the  light  of  the  understanding,  it  is  the  fire  of 
divine  love  for  the  heart.  The  Christian  soul  neither 
needs  nor  wishes  to  avoid  the  company  of  the  Church, 
when  she  would  converse  with  God,  and  praise  his 
greatness  and  his  mercy.  She  knows  that  the  com- 
pany of  the  Spouse  of  Christ  could  not  be  a  distrac- 
tion to  her.  Is  not  the  soul  herself  a  part  of  this 
Church,  which  is  the  Spouse  ?  Has  not  Jesus  Christ 
said  :  Father,  may  they  be  one,  as  we  also  are  one  ?l 
and,  when  many  are  gathered  in  his  name,  does  not 
this  same  Saviour  assure  us  that  he  is  in  the  midst 
of  them  ? 2  The  soul,  therefore,  may  converse  freely 
with  her  God,  who  tells  her  that  he  is  so  near  her ; 
she  may  sing  praise,  as  David  did,  in  the  sight  of  the 
Angels,3  whose  eternal  prayer  blends  with  the  prayer 
which  the  Church  utters  in  time. 

But  for  now  many  past  ages,  Christians  have  grown 
too  solicitous  about  earthly  things  to  frequent  the 

1  St.  John,  xvii.  11.       2  St.  Matth.  xviii.  20.       3  Ps.  cxxxvii.  1. 


4  GENEKAL  PEEFACE. 

holy  Vigils,  and  the  mystical  Hours  of  the  day. 
Long  before  the  Rationalism  of  the  sixteenth  century 
became  the  auxiliary  of  the  heresies  of  that  period 
by  curtailing  the  solemnity  of  the  Divine  Service, 
the  days  for  the  people's  uniting  exteriorly  with  the 
Prayer  of  the  Church  had  been  reduced  to  Sundays 
and  Festivals.  During  the  rest  of  the  year,  the 
solemn  and  imposing  grandeur  of  the  Liturgy  was 
gone  through,  and  the  people  took  no  share  in  it. 
Each  new  generation  increased  in  indifference  for 
that  which  their  forefathers  in  the  faith  had  loved  as 
their  best  and  strongest  food.  Social  prayer  was 
made  to  give  way  to  individual  devotion.  Chanting, 
which  is  the  natural  expression  of  the  prayers  and 
even  of  the  sorrows  of  the  Church,  became  limited 
to  the  solemn  feasts.  That  was  the  first  sad  revolu- 
tion in  the  Christian  world. 

But,  even  then,  Christendom  was  still  rich  in 
churches  and  monasteries,  and  there,  day  and  night, 
was  still  heard  the  sound  of  the  same  venerable 
prayers  which  the  Church  had  used  through  all  the 
past  ages.  So  many  hands  lifted  up  to  God  drew  down 
upon  the  earth  the  dew  of  heaven,  averted  storms, 
and  won  victory  for  those  who  were  in  battle.  These 
servants  of  God,  who  thus  kept  up  an  untiring  choir 
that  sang  the  divine  praises,  were  considered  as 
solemnly  deputed  by  the  people,  which  was  still 
Catholic,  to  pay  the  full  tribute  of  homage  and 
thanksgiving  due  to  God,  his  Blessed  Mother  and  the 
Saints.  These  prayers  formed  a  treasury  which  be- 
longed to  all.  The  faithful  gladly  united  themselves 
in  spirit  to  what  was  done.     When  any  affliction,  or 


GENERAL  PREFACE.  5 

the  desire  to  obtain  a  special  favour,  led  them  to  the 
house  of  God,  they  were  sure  to  hear,  no  matter  at 
what  hour  they  went,  that  untiring  voice  of  prayer 
which  was  for  ever  ascending  to  heaven  for  the  salva- 
tion of  mankind.  At  times  they  would  give  up  their 
worldly  business  and  cares,  and  take  part  in  the 
Office  of  the  Church,  and  all  still  understood,  at  least 
in  a  general  way,  the  mysteries  of  the  Liturgy. 

Then  came  the  Reformation,  and,  at  the  onset,  it 
attacked  the  very  life  of  Christianity; — it  would  put 
an  end  to  the  sacrifice  of  man's  praise  of  his  God. 
It  strewed  many  countries  with  the  ruins  of  churches  ; 
the  Clergy,  the  Monks,  and  Virgins  consecrated  to 
God,  were  banished  or  put  to  death ;  and  in  the 
churcheswhich  were  spared, the  divine  Offices  were  not 
permitted.  In  other  countries,  where  the  persecution 
was  not  so  violent,  many  sanctuaries  were  devastated 
and  irremediably  ruined,  so  that  the  life  and  voice 
of  Prayer  grew  faint.  Faith,  too,  was  weakened ;  na- 
tionalism became  fearfully  developed  ;  and  now,  our 
own  age  seems  threatened  with  what  is  the  result  of 
these  evils, — the  subversion  of  all  social  order. 

For,  when  the  Reformation  had  abated  the  violence 
of  its  persecution,  it  had  other  weapons  wherewith 
to  attack  the  Church.  By  these,  several  countries, 
which  continued  to  be  Catholic,  were  infected  with 
that  spirit  of  pride,  which  is  the  enemy  of  Prayer. 
The  modern  spirit  would  have  it,  that  Prayer  is  not 
Action: — as  though  every  good  action,  done  by  man, 
were  not  a  gift  of  God ;  a  gift  which  implies  two 
prayers  :  one  of  petition,  that  it  may  be  granted  ;  and 
another  of  thanksgiving,  because  it  is  granted  !    There 


6  GENERAL  PREFACE. 

were  found  men  who  said,  Let  us  abolish  all  the  fes- 
tival days  of  God  from  the  earth  ;a  and  then  came 
upon  ns  that  calamity  which  brings  all  others  with 
it,  and  which  the  good  Mardochai  besought  God  to 
avert  from  his  nation,  when  he  said,  Shut  not,  0  Lord, 
the  mouths  of  them  that  sing  to  thee  !2 

But,  by  the  mercy  of  God,  we  have  not  been  con- 
sumed ; 3  there  have  been  left  remnants  of  Israel  f 
and  the  number  of  believers  in  the  Lord  has  increased.5 
What  is  it  that  has  moved  the  heart  of  our  God  to 
bring  about  this  merciful  conversion  ?  Prayer,  which 
had  been  interrupted,  has  been  resumed.  Numerous 
choirs  of  Virgins  consecrated  to  God,  and,  though  far 
less  in  number,  of  men  who  have  left  the  world  to 
spend  themselves  in  the  divine  praises,  make  the  voice 
of  the  turtle-dove  heard  in  our  land.6  This  voice  is 
every  day  gaining  more  power:  may  it  find  acceptance 
from  our  Lord,  and  move  him  to  show  the  sign  of 
his  covenant  with  us,  the  rainbow  of  reconciliation  ! 
May  our  venerable  Cathedrals  again  re-echo  those 
solemn  formulas  of  Prayer,  which  heresy  has  so  long 
suppressed  !  May  the  faith  and  munificence  of  the 
faithful  reproduce  the  prodigies  of  those  past  ages, 
which  owed  their  greatness  to  the  acknowledgment, 
which  all,  even  the  very  civic  authorities,  paid  to  the 
all-powerfulness  of  Prayer ! 

But  this  Liturgical  Prayer  would  soon  become 
powerless,  were  the  faithful  not  to  take  a  real  share 
in  it,  or,  at  least,  not  to  associate  themselves  to  it  in 


1  Ps.  Ixxiii.  8.  3  Lam.  iii.  22.  5  Acts,  v.  14. 

2  Esther,  xiii.  17.         *  Is.  i.  5.  6  Cant.  ii.  12. 


GENERAL  PREFACE,  7 

heart.  It  can  heal  and  save  the  world,  but  only  on 
the  condition  that  it  be  understood.  Be  wise,  then, 
ye  children  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  get  that 
largeness  of  heart  which  will  make  you  pray  the 
Prayer  of  your  Mother.  Come,  and  by  your  share 
in  it,  fill  up  that  harmony  which  is  so  sweet  to  the 
ear  of  God.  Where  would  you  obtain  the  spirit  of 
Prayer  if  not  at  its  natural  source  ?  Let  us  remind 
you  of  the  exhortation  of  the  Apostle  to  the  first 
Christians  :  Let  the  peace  of  Christ  rejoice  in  your 
hearts, — let  the  Word  of  Christ  divell  in  you  abun- 
dantly, in  all  wisdom ;  teaching  and  admonishing 
one  another,  in  Psalms,  Hymns,  and  spiritual 
Canticles,  singing  in  grace  in  your  hearts  to  God} 
For  a  long  time,  a  remedy  has  been  devised  for  an 
evil  which  was  only  vaguely  felt.  The  spirit  of  Prayer, 
and  even  Prayer  itself,  has  been  sought  for  in  methods, 
and  Prayer  Books,  which  contain,  it  is  true,  laudable, 
yea,  pious  thoughts,  but,  after  all,  only  human  thoughts. 
Such  nourishment  cannot  satisfy  the  soul,  for  it  does 
not  initiate  her  into  the  Prayer  of  the  Church.  In- 
stead of  uniting  her  with  the  Prayer  of  the  Church, 
it  isolates  her.  Of  this  kind  are  so  many  of  those 
collections  of  prayers  and  reflections,  which  have  been 
published,  under  different  titles,  during  the  last  two 
hundred  years,  and  by  which  it  was  intended  to 
edify  the  faithful,  and  suggest  to  them,  either  for 
hearing  Mass,  or  going  to  the  Sacraments,  or  keeping 
the  Feasts  of  the  Church,  certain  more  or  less  com- 
monplace considerations  and  acts,  always  drawn  up 

1  Coloss.  iii.  15,  16. 


8  GENERAL  PREFACE. 

according  to  the  manner  of  thought  and  sentiment 
peculiar  to  the  author  of  each  book.  Each  Manual 
had  consequently  its  own  way  of  treating  these  im- 
portant subjects.  To  Christians  already  formed  to 
piety,  such  books  as  these,  would,  indeed,  serve  a  pur- 
pose, especially  as  nothing  better  was  offered  to  them  : 
but  they  had  not  influence  sufficient  to  inspire  with 
a  relish  and  spirit  of  Prayer  such  as  had  not  other- 
wise received  them. 

It  may  perhaps  be  objected,  that  were  all  practical 
books  of  Christian  piety  to  be  reduced  to  mere  expla- 
nations of  the  Liturgy,  we  should  run  the  risk  of 
impoverishing,  and  even  destroying,  by  excessive  for- 
malities, the  spirit  of  Prayer  and  Contemplation, 
which  is  such  a  precious  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost  to 
the  Church  of  God.  To  this  we  answer  firstly,  that 
by  asserting  the  immense  superiority  of  Liturgical 
over  individual  Prayer,  we  do  not  say  that  indivi- 
dual methods  should  be  suppressed;  we  would  only 
wish  them  to  be  kept  in  their  proper  place.  Then 
secondly,  we  answer  that  in  the  divine  Psalmody  there 
are  several  degrees :  the  lowest  are  near  enough  to 
the  earth  to  be  reached  by  souls  that  are  still  plod- 
ding in  the  fatigues  of  the  purgative  way ;  but  in 
proportion  as  a  soul  ascends  this  mystic  ladder,  she 
feels  herself  illuminated  by  a  heavenly  ray ;  and 
still  higher,  she  finds  union  and  rest  in  the  Sovereign 
Good.  Whence,  for  instance,  did  the  holy  Doctors  of 
the  early  ages,  and  the  venerable  Patriarchs  of  the 
desert,  acquire  their  spiritual  knowledge  and  tender 
devotion,  of  which  they  have  left  us  such  treasures 
in  their  writings  and  their  works  ?  It  was  from  those 


GENERAL  PREFACE.  9 

long  hours  of  Psalmody,  during  which  Truth,  simple 
yet  manifold,  unceasingly  passed  before  the  eyes  of 
their  soul,  rilling  it  with  streams  of  light  and  love. 
What  was  it  that  gave  to  the  seraphic  Bernard  that 
wonderful  unction,  which  runs  in  streams  of  honey 
through  all  his  writings  ?  To  the  author  of  the  Imi- 
tation of  Christ  that  sweetness,  that  hidden  manna, 
which  seems  ever  fresh  ?  To  Louis  Blosius,  that  inex- 
pressible charm  and  tenderness  which  move  the  heart 
of  every  reader  ?  It  was  the  daily  use  of  the  Liturgy, 
in  the  midst  of  which  they  spent  their  days,  inter- 
mingling their  songs  of  joy  with  those  of  their 
sorrow. 

Let  not  then  the  soul,  the  spouse  of  Christ,  that  is 
possessed  with  a  love  of  Prayer,  be  afraid  that  her 
thirst  cannot  be  quenched  by  these  rich  streams  of 
the  Liturgy,  which  now  flow  calmly  as  a  streamlet, 
now  roll  with  the  loud  impetuosity  of  a  torrent,  and 
now  swell  with  the  mighty  heavings  of  the  sea.  Let 
her  come  and  drink  this  clear  water  which  springeth 
up  unto  life  everlasting  ;*  for  this  water  flows  from 
the  very  fountains  of  her  Saviour  f  and  the  Spirit 
of  God  animates  it  by  his  virtue,  rendering  it  sweet 
and  refreshing  to  the  panting  stag.3  Neither  let  a  soul, 
that  is  in  love  with  the  charms  of  Contemplation,  be 
afraid  of  the  pomp  and  harmony  of  the  chants  of  Li- 
turgical Prayer,  as  though  they  could  distract  her;  for 
what  is  this  soul  herself  but  an  instrument  of  harmony 
responding  to  the  touch  of  that  divine  Spirit  which 
possesses  her  ?     Would  she,  when  she  wishes  to  enjoy 

1  St.  John,  iv.  14.  2  Is.  xii.  3.  3  Ps.  xli.  2. 


10  GENERAL  PREFACE. 

the  heavenly  interview,  comport  herself  differently 
from  the  Royal  Psalmist  himself,  that  model  of  all 
true  Prayer,  recognised  as  such  by  God  and  the 
Church  ?  Yet  he,  when  he  would  enkindle  the  sacred 
flame  within  his  breast,  has  recourse  to  his  harp : 
My  heart  is  ready,  he  says ;  0  God,  my  heart  is 
ready ;  I  will  sing,  I  will  give  forth  a  Psalm.  A  rise, 
my  glory  !  arise,  psaltery  and  harp  !  I  will  arise 
in  the  morning  early.  I  will  praise  thee,  0  Lord, 
among  the  people  ;  and  I  will  sing  unto  thee  among 
the  nations.  For  thy  mercy  is  great  above  the 
heavens,  and  thy  truth  even  unto  the  clouds.1  At 
other  times,  if,  in  the  interior  recollection  of  the 
senses,  he  have  entered  into  the  powers  of  the  Lord,,2 
then,  in  his  meditation,  afireflameth  out,z  a  fire  of 
holy  excitement;  and  to  assuage  the  heat  which 
is  burning  within  him,  he  bursts  out  into  another 
canticle,  saying  :  My  heart  hath  uttered  a  good  word; 
I  speak  my  works  to  the  King ;  and  publishes  again 
and  again  the  beauty  and  victories  of  the  Bridegroom, 
and  the  graces  of  the  Bride.4  So  true  is  it,  that  for 
Contemplative  souls,  Liturgical  Prayer  is  both  the 
principle  and  the  consequence  of  the  visits  they  re- 
ceive from  God. 

But  in  nothing  is  the  excellency  of  the  Liturgy  so 
apparent,  as  in  its  being  milk  for  children,  and  solid 
food  for  the  strong ;  thus  resembling  the  miraculous 
bread  of  the  desert,  and  taking  every  kind  of  taste 
according  to  the  different  dispositions  of  those  who 


1  Ps.  cvii.  5.  3  Ps.  xxxviii.  4. 

3  Ibid.  lxx.  16.  4  Ibid.  xliv.  2. 


GENERAL  PREFACE.  11 

eat.  It  is,  indeed*  a  divine  property,  which  has  not 
unfrequently  been  noticed  even  by  those  who  are  not 
of  the  number  of  God's  children,  and  has  forced  them 
to  acknowledge  that  the  Catholic  Church  alone  knows 
the  secret  of  Prayer.  Nay,  might  it  not  be  said  that 
the  reason  of  the  Protestants  having  no  Ascetic 
writers,  is  that  they  have  no  real  Liturgical  Grayer  ? 
It  is  true,  that  a  sufficient  explanation  of  the  abso- 
lute want  of  unction,  which  characterises  all  that  the 
Reformation  has  produced,  is  to  be  found  in  its  deny- 
ing the  Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Eucharist,  which  is  the 
centre  of  all  Religion :  but  this  is  virtually  the  same 
as  saying  that  Protestants  have  no  Liturgical  Prayer, 
inasmuch  as  the  Liturgy  is  so  essentially  and  inti- 
mately connected  with  the  Eucharist.  So  true  is  this, 
that  wheresoever  the  dogma  of  the  Real  Presence  has 
ceased  to  be  believed,  there  also  have  the  Canonical 
Hours  ceased,  and  could  not  but  cease. 

It  is  therefore  Jesus  Christ  himself  who  is  the 
source  as  well  as  the  object  of  the  Liturgy;  and  hence 
the  Ecclesiastical  Year  which  we  have  undertaken  to 
explain  in  this  work,  is  neither  more  nor  less  than  the 
manifestation  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  his  Mysteries,  in 
the  Church  and  the  faithful  soul.  It  is  the  divine 
Cycle,  in  which  appear  all  the  works  of  God,  each  in 
its  turn  ;  the  Seven  Days  of  the  Creation  ;  the  Pasch 
and  Pentecost  of  the  Jewish  people ;  the  ineffable 
Visit  of  the  Incarnate  Word ;  His  Sacrifice  and  His 
Victory;  the  Descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  the  Holy 
Eucharist ;  the  surpassing  glories  of  the  Mother  of 
God,  ever  a  Virgin  ;  the  magnificence  of  the  Angels ; 
the  merits  and  triumphs  of  the  Saints.     Thus,  the 


12  GENERAL  PREFACE. 

Cycle  of  the  Church  may  be  said  to  have  its  beginning 
under  the  Patriarchal  Law,  its  progress  under  the 
Written  Law,  and  its  completion  under  the  Law  of 
Love,  in  which,  at  length,  having  attained  its  last  per- 
fection, it  will  disappear  in  eternity,  as  the  Written 
Law  gave  way  the  day  on  which  the  invincible  power 
of  the  Blood  of  the  Lamb  rent  asunder  the  veil  of  the 
Temple. 

Would  that  we  might  worthily  describe  the  sacred 
wonders  of  this  mystical  Calendar,  of  which  all  others 
are  bat  images  and  humble  auxiliaries  !  Happy  in- 
deed should  we  deem  ourselves,  if  we  could  make  the 
faithful  understand  the  grand  glory  which  is  given  to 
the  Blessed  Trinity,  to  our  Saviour,  to  Mary,  to  the 
Angels,  and  to  the  Saints,  by  this  annual  commemo- 
ration of  the  wondrous  works  of  our  God  !  If,  every 
year,  the  Church  renews  her  youth  as  that  of  the 
eagle,1  she  does  so  because,  by  means  of  the  Cycle  of 
the  Liturgy,  she  is  visited  by  her  divine  Spouse,  who 
supplies  all  her  wants.  Each  year  she  again  sees  him 
an  Infant  in  the  manger,  fasting  in  the  desert,  offer- 
ing himself  on  the  Cross,  rising  from  the  grave, 
founding  his  Church,  instituting  the  Sacraments,  as- 
cending to  the  right  hand  of  his  Father,  and  sending 
the  Holy  Ghost  upon  men.  The  graces  of  all  these 
divine  mysteries  are  renewed  in  her ;  so  that,  being 
made  fruitful  in  every  good  thing,  the  mystic  Garden 
yields  to  the  Spouse,  in  every  season,  under  the 
influence  of  the  spirit  he  breathes  into  her,  the 
sweet  perfume  of  aromatic  sfAces?     Each  year,  the 

1  Ps.  cii.  5.  2  cant<  iv.  16. 


GENERAL  PREFACE.  13 

Spirit  of  God  retakes  possession  of  his  well  Beloved, 
and  gives  her  light  and  love  ;  each  year  she  derives 
an  increase  of  life  from  the  maternal  influence  which 
the  Blessed  Virgin  exercises  over  her,  on  the  feasts  of 
her  joys,  her  dolours,  and  her  glories-,  and  lastly,  the 
brilliant  constellations  formed  by  the  successive  ap- 
pearance of  the  nine  choirs  of  the  Angels,  and  the 
Saints  in  their  varied  orders  of  Apostles,  Martyrs, 
Confessors,  and  Virgins,  shed  on  her,  each  year,  power- 
ful help  and  abundant  consolation. 

Now,  what  the  Liturgical  Year  does  for  the  Church 
at  large,  it  does  also  for  the  soul  of  each  one  of  the 
faithful  th?4  is  careful  to  receive  the  gift  of  God. 
This  succession  of  mystic  seasons  imparts  to  the 
Christian  the  elements  of  that  supernatural  life,  with- 
out which  every  other  life  is  but  a  sort  of  death,  more 
or  less  disguised.  Nay,  there  are  some  souls,  so  far 
acted  upon  by  the  divine  succession  of  the  Catholic 
Cycle,  that  they  experience  even  a  physical  effect 
from  each  evolution:  the  supernatural  life  has 
gained  ascendency  over  the  natural,  and  the  Ca- 
lendar of  the  Church  makes  them  forget  that  of 
Astronomers. 

Let  the  Catholic  who  reads  this  work  be  on  his 
guard  against  that  coldness  of  faith,  and  that  want 
of  love,  which  have  well-nigh  turned  into  an  object 
of  indifference  that  admirable  Cycle  of  the  Church, 
which  heretofore  was,  and  always  ought  to  be,  the  joy 
of  the  people,  the  source  of  light  to  the  learned,  and 
the  book]of  the  humblest  of  the  faithful. 

The  reader  will  rightly  infer  from  what  we  have 
said,  that  the  object  we  have  in  view  is  not,  in  any 


14  GENEEAL  PREFACE. 

way,  to  publish  some  favourite  or  clever  method  of 
our  own  with  regard  to  the  Mysteries  of  the  Ecclesi- 
astical Year,  nor  to  make  them  subjects  for  eloquence, 
philosophy,  or  intellectual  fancy.  We  have  bat  one 
aim,  and  we  humbly  ask  of  God  that  we  may  attain 
it ;  it  is  to  serve  as  interpreter  to  the  Church,  in 
order  thus  to  enable  the  faithful  to  follow  her  in  her 
Prayer  of  each  mystic  season,  nay,  of  each  day  and 
hour.  God  forbid,  that  we  should  ever  presume  to 
put  our  human  thoughts  side  by  side  with  those  which 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the  Wisdom  of  God, 
inspires  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  his  well-beloved  Spouse 
the  Church  !  All  that  we  would  do  is  to  show  what 
is  the  spirit  which  the  Holy  Ghost  has  put  into  each 
of  the  several  periods  of  the  Liturgical  Year ;  and 
for  this  purpose,  to  study  attentively  the  most  ancient 
and  venerable  Liturgies,  and  embody  in  our  explana- 
tion the  sentiments  of  the  Holy  Fathers  and  the  old- 
est and  most  approved  Liturgists.  With  these  helps 
we  hope  to  give  to  the  faithful  the  flowers  of  Eccle- 
siastical Prayer,  and  thus  unite,  as  far  as  possible, 
practical  usefulness  with  the  charm  of  variety. 

In  this  work  we  shall  lay  great  stress  on  the  cultus 
of  the  Saints,  inasmuch  as  it  is  always  needed,  but 
now  more  than  ever.  Devotion  to  the  adorable  Per- 
son of  our  Saviour  has  revived  among  us  with  a 
vigorous  development;  devotion  to  our  Blessed  Lady 
has  wonderfully  spread  and  increased ;  let  the  Saints 
also  receive  our  honour  and  our  confidence,  and  then 
the  last  traces  of  the  unhappy  spirit  introduced  by 
Jansenism  will  disappear.  But,  since  we  cannot  in- 
troduce all  the  Saints  into  our  Calendar,  we  shall 


GENERAL  PREFACE.  15 

limit  ourselves,  almost  exclusively,  to  those  inserted 
in  that  of  Rome. 

Nevertheless,  the  Roman  Liturgy  is  not  the  only 
one  we  intend  to  give,  though  of  course  it  will  be  the 
most  prominent,  as  being  the  very  basis  of  our  Litur- 
gical Year.  The  Ambrosian,  the  Gallican,  the  Gothic 
or  Mozarabic,  the  Greek,  the  Armenian,  the  Syriac 
Liturgies  will,  each  in  its  turn,  give  us  of  their  riches 
and  form  our  treasury  of  Prayers ;  and  thus,  never 
will  the  voice  of  the  Church  have  been  fuller  and 
more  impressive.  The  Western  Churches,  during 
the  Middle  Ages,  have  inserted,  into  the  Liturgy  oi 
some  of  the  Feasts,  Sequences  so  admirable  for  their 
unction  and  doctrine,  that  we  shall  consider  it  a  duty 
to  give  them  to  the  faithful  as  often  as  occasion  serves. 

The  plan  we  shall  follow  in  each  volume  of  this 
Liturgical  Year,  will  depend  upon  the  subjects  which 
must  be  treated  of  in  each  respectively.  Everything 
that  relates  to  the  merely  scientific  bearing  of  the 
Liturgy,  will  be  reserved  for  our  "  Liturgical  Insti- 
tutions" The  present  work  will  be  limited  to  those 
details,  which  are  necessary  to  be  understood  by  the 
faithful  in  order  to  their  entering  into  the  Spirit  of 
the  Church,  during  the  several  mystic  seasons  of  the 
year.  The  sacred  formulae  will  be  explained  and 
adapted  to  the  use  of  the  laity  by  means  of  a  com- 
mentary, in  which  we  shall  endeavour  to  avoid  both 
the  imprudence  of  a  literal  translation,  and  the  dul- 
ness  of  a  tedious  and  insipid  paraphrase. 

Since,  as  we  have  already  said,  our  aim  is  to  pre- 
sent to  the  faithful  the  most  solid  and  useful  portions 
of  the  Liturgies,  we  have  excluded  from  our  selection 


16  GENERAL  PREFACE- 

all  such  as  seemed  to  us  not  to  answer  our  purpose. 
This  observation  refers  mainly  to  the  portions  selected 
from  the  Offices  of  the  Greek  Church.  Nothing  is 
finer  and  more  impressive  than  this  Liturgy,  when 
read  in  chosen  extracts;  but  nothing  is  so  disap- 
pointing when  taken  as  a  whole.  The  monotony  of 
phrases  is  insupportable,  and  the  endless  repetitions 
of  the  same  idea  spoil  the  real  unction  contained  in 
it.  We  have  therefore  selected  only  the  richest 
flowers  of  this  over-stocked  garden :  more  than  these 
would  have  been  a  burden.  These  remarks  apply 
especially  to  the  Mencea  and  Anthologia  of  the  Greek 
Church.  The  Liturgical  books  of  the  other  Eastern 
Churches  are  generally  drawn  up  with  better  taste 
and  more  discretion. 

In  order  to  conform  with  the  wishes  of  the  Holy 
See,  we  do  not  give,  in  any  of  the  volumes  of  our 
Liturgical  Year,  the  literal  translation  of  the  Ordi- 
nary and  Canon  of  the  Mass  ;  and  have,  in  its  place, 
endeavoured  to  give,  to  such  of  the  laity  as  do  not 
understand  Latin,  the  means  of  uniting,  in  the  closest 
possible  manner,  with  everything  that  the  Priest 
says  and  does  at  the  altar. 

The  first  part  of  the  Liturgical  Year  is  devoted  to 
Advent.  The  second  contains  the  explanation  of 
the  divine  service  from  Christmas  to  the  Purifica- 
tion. The  third  takes  us  from  the  Purification  as 
far  as  Lent,  and  is  called  Septuagesima.  The  fourth 
comprises  the  four  first  weeks  of  Lent  The  fifth 
consists  of  Passion  Week  and  Holy  Week.  The  sixth 
includes  the  time  of  Easter.  The  seventh  will  ex- 
plain the  Office  of  the  Church  from  Trinity  to  the 


GENEKAL  PEEFACE.  17 

end  of  July.  The  eighth  will  give  the  two  months, 
August  and  September.  The  ninth  will  finish  the 
year,  and  contain  the  Liturgy  of  October  and  No- 
vember. 

The  year  thus  planned  for  us  by  the  Church  her- 
self, produces  a  drama,  the  sublimest  that  has  ever 
been  offered  to  the  admiration  of  man.  God  inter- 
vening for  the  salvation  and  sanctification  of  men, — 
the  reconciliation  of  justice  with  mercy, — the  humilia- 
tions, the  sufferings,  and  the  glories  of  the  God-Man, 
— the  coming  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  his  workings 
in  humanity  and  in  the  faithful  soul, — the  mission  and 
the  action  of  the  Church, — all  are  there  portrayed  in 
the  most  telling  and  impressive  way.  Each  mystery 
has  its  time  and  place  by  means  of  the  sublime  suc- 
cession of  the  respective  anniversaries.  A  divine 
fact  happened  eighteen  hundred  years  ago  ;  its  anni- 
versary is  kept  in  the  Liturgy,  and  its  impression 
thus  reiterated  every  year  in  the  minds  of  the  faith- 
ful, with  a  freshness  as  though  God  were  then  doing 
for  the  first  time,  what  he  did  so  many  ages  past. 
Human  ingenuity  could  never  have  devised  a  system 
of  such  power  as  this.  And  those  writers  who  are 
bold  and  frivolous  enough  to  assert,  that  Christianity 
has  no  longer  an  influence  in  the  world,  and  is  now 
but  the  ruin  of  an  ancient  thing, — what  should  they 
not  say  at  seeing  these  undying  realities,  this  vigour, 
this  endlessness  of  the  Liturgical  Year  ?  For  what  is 
the  Liturgy  but  an  untiring  affirmation  of  the  works 
of  God  % — a  solemn  acknowledgment  of  those  divine 
facts,  which,  though  done  but  once,  are  imperishable 
in  man's  remembrance,  and  are  every  year  renewed 

c 


18  GENERAL  PREFACE. 

by  the  commemoration  he  makes  of  them  ?  Have 
we  not  our  Writings  of  the  Apostolic  Age,  our  Acts 
of  the  Martyrs,  our  Decrees  of  ancient  Councils,  our 
Writings  of  the  Fathers,  our  Monuments, — taking  us 
to  the  very  origin  of  Christianity,  and  testifying  to 
the  most  explicit  tradition  regarding  our  Feasts  ? 
It  is  true  that  the  Liturgical  Cycle  has  its  integrity 
and  its  development  nowhere  but  in  the  Catholic 
Church ;  but  the  sects  which  are  separated  from  her, 
whether  by  schism  or  by  heresy,  all  pay  the  homage 
of  their  testimony  to  the  divine  origin  of  the  Liturgy, 
by  the  pertinacity  with  which  they  cling  to  the  rem- 
nants they  have  preserved, — remnants,  by  the  way, 
to  which  they  owe  whatever  vitality  they  still  retain. 
But,  though  the  Liturgy  so  deeply  impresses  us 
by  its  annually  bringing  before  us  the  dramatic 
solemnisation  of  those  mysteries,  which  have  been 
accomplished  for  the  salvation  of  man  and  for  his 
union  with  his  God ;  it  is  nevertheless  wonderful  how 
the  succession  of  year  after  year  diminishes  not  one 
atom  of  the  freshness  and  vehemence  of  those  im- 
pressions, and  each  new  beginning  of  the  Cycle  of 
mystic  seasons  seems  to  be  our  first  year.  Advent 
is  ever  impregnated  with  the  spirit  of  a  sweet  and 
mysterious  expectation.  Christmas  ever  charms  us 
with  the  incomparable  joy  of  the  birth  of  the  divine 
Child.  We  enter,  with  the  well-known  feeling,  into 
the  gloom  of  Septuagesima.  Lent  comes,  and  we 
prostrate  ourselves  before  God's  justice,  and  our  heart 
is  filled  with  a  salutary  fear  and  compunction,  which 
seem  so  much  keener  than  they  were  the  year  before. 
The   Passion   of  our   Redeemer,   followed  in  every 


GENERAL  PREFACE.  19 

minutest  detail,  does  it  not  seem  as  though  we  never 
knew  it  till  that  year  ?  The  pageant  of  Easter  makes 
us  so  glad,  that  our  former  Easters  appear  to  have 
been  only  half-  kept.  The  triumphant  Ascension 
discloses  to  us,  upon  the  whole  economy  of  the  In- 
carnation, secrets  which  we  never  knew  before  this 
year.  When  the  Holy  Ghost  comes  down  at  Pente- 
cost, is  it  not  the  case,  that  we  so  thrill  with  the 
renewal  of  the  great  Presence,  that  our  emotions  of 
last  Whit  Sunday  seem  too" tame  for  this  ?  However 
habituated  we  get  to  the  ineffable  gift  which  Jesus 
made  us  on  the  eve  of  his  Passion,  the  bright  dear 
feast  of  Corpus  Christi  brings  strange  increase  of 
love  to  our  heart;  and  the  Blessed  Sacrament  seems 
more  our  own  than  ever.  The  feasts  of  our  Blessed 
Lady  come  round,  each  time  revealing  something 
more  of  her  greatness  ;  and  the  Saints, — with  whom 
we  fancied  we  had  become  so  thoroughly  acquainted, 
— each  year  as  they  visit  us,  seem  so  much  grander, 
we  understand  them  better,  we  feel  more  sensibly 
the  link  there  is  between  them  and  ourselves. 

This  renovative  power  of  the  Liturgical  Year,  to 
which  we  wish  to  draw  the  attention  of  our  readers, 
is  a  mystery  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  who  unceasingly 
animates  the  work  which  he  has  inspired  the  Church 
to  establish  among  men ;  that  thus  they  might 
sanctify  that  time  which  has  been  given  to  them  for 
the  worship  of  their  Creator.  The  renovation  works 
also  a  twofold  growth  in  the  mind  of  man, — the  in- 
crease of  knowledge  of  the  truths  of  faith,  and  the 
development  of  the  supernatural  life.  There  is  not  a 
single  point  of  Christian  doctrine  which,  in  the  course 


20  GENERAL  PREFACE. 

of  the  Liturgical  Year,  is  not  brought  forward,  nay, 
which  is  not  inculcated,  with  that  authority  and 
unction,  wherewith  our  Holy  Mother  the  Church  has  so 
deeply  impregnated  her  words  and  her  elegant  rites. 
The  faith  of  the  believer  is  thus  enlightened  more 
and  more  each  year;  the  theological  sensus  is  formed 
in  him  ;  Prayer  leads  him  to  science.  Mysteries  con- 
tinue to  be  mysteries ;  but  their  brightness  becomes  so 
vivid,  that  the  mind  and  heart  are  enchanted,  and  we 
begin  to  imagine  what  a  joy  the  eternal  sight  of  these 
divine  beauties  will  produce  in  us,  when  the  glimpse 
of  them  through  the  clouds  is  such  a  charm  to  us. 

Yes,  there  must  needs  be  great  progress  in  a  Chris- 
tian soul,  when  the  object  of  her  faith  is  ever  gaining 
greater  light;  when  the  hope  of  her  salvation  is 
almost  forced  upon  her  by  the  sight  of  all  those 
wonders  which  God's  goodness  has  wrought  for  his 
creatures ;  and  when  charity  is  enkindled  within  her 
under  the  breath  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  who  has  made 
the  Liturgy  to  be  the  centre  of  his  working  in  men's 
souls.  Is  not  the  formation  of  Christ  within  us1  the 
result  of  our  uniting  in  his  various  nrysteries,  the 
joyful,  the  sorroicful,  and  the  glorious  ?  These 
mysteries  of  Jesus  come  into  us,  are  incorporated  into 
11s,  each  year,  by  the  powei  of  the  special  grace  which 
the  Liturgy  produces  by  communicating  them  to  us: 
the  new  man  gradually  grows  up,  even  on  the  ruins 
of  the  old.  Then  again,  in  order  that  the  divine  type 
may  the  more  easily  be  stamped  upon  us,  wTe  need 
examples  ;  we  want  to  see  how  our  fellow-men  have 

1  Gal.  iv.  19. 


GENERAL  PREFACE.  21 

realised  that  type  in  themselves ;  and  the  Liturgy- 
does  this  for  us,  by  offering  us  the  practical  teaching 
and  the  encouragement  of  our  dear  Saints,  who  shine 
like  stars  in  the  firmament  of  the  ecclesiastical  year. 
By  dint  of  looking  upon  them  we  come  to  learn  the 
way  which  leads  to  Jesus,  just  as  Jesus  is  our  Way 
which  leads  to  the  Father.  But  above  all  the  Saints, 
and  brighter  than  them  all,  we  have  Mary,  showing 
us,  in  her  single  self,  the  Mirror  of  Justice,  in  which 
is  reflected  all  the  sanctity  possible  in  a  pure  creature. 
Finally,  the  Liturgical  Year,  the  plan  of  which 
we  have  been  explaining,  will  bring  continually  before 
us  the  sublimest  poetry  that  the  human  mind  has 
conceived.  Not  only  will  it  enable  us  to  understand 
the  divine  songs  of  David  and  the  Prophets,  on  which 
mainly  the  Liturgy  has  formed  her  own;  but  the 
Cycle  will  elicit  from  the  Church,  according  as  the 
different  seasons  and  feasts  come  on,  canticles  and 
hymns  the  finest,  the  sublimest,  and  the  worthiest  of 
the  subject.  We  shall  hear  the  several  countries, 
united  as  they  are  in  one  common  faith,  pouring  forth 
their  admiration  and  love  in  accents,  wherein  are 
blended  the  most  perfect  harmony  of  thought  and 
sentiment,  with  the  most  marked  diversity  of  genius 
and  expression.  We  exclude  from  our  collection,  as 
duty  requires  we  should,  certain  modern  compositions, 
which  had  too  close  a  resemblance  to  pagan  literature, 
and  which,  as  they  had  not  received  the  sanction  of 
the  Church's  acceptance,  were  likely  to  be  short-lived  : 
but  the  productions  of  liturgical  genius,  no  matter  of 
what  age  in  the  Church,  are  profusely  admitted ;  from 
Sedulius   and   Prudentius,  down  to  Adam  of  Saint 


22  GENERAL   PEEFACE. 

Victor  and  his  cotemporaries,  for  the  Latin  Church ; 
and  from  St.  Ephrem,  down  to  the  latest  Catholic 
Byzantine  Hymnologists,  for  the  Greek  Church.  A 
rich  vein  of  poetry  will  be  found  as  well  in  the 
prayers  which  have  been  composed  in  simple  prose, 
as  in  those  which  are  presented  to  us  in  the  garb  of 
measure  and  rhythm.  Poetry,  being  the  only  lan- 
guage adequate  to  the  sublime  thought  which  is  to 
be  expressed,  is  to  be  found  everywhere  in  the  Liturgy, 
as  it  is  in  the  inspired  Writings  ;  and  a  complete  col- 
lection of  the  formulas  of  public  prayer,  would  be,  at 
the  same  time,  the  richest  selection  of  Christian 
Poetry : — of  that  Poetry,  which  sings  on  earth  the 
mysteries  of  heaven,  and  prepares  us  for  the  canticles 
of  eternity. 

In  concluding  this  General  Preface,  we  beg  to  re- 
mind  our  readers,  that  in  a  work  like  the  present,  the 
success  of  the  writer  is  absolutely  dependent  upon  the 
Holy  Spirit,  who  breatheth  where  he  willeth,1  and  that 
the  most  which  man  can  do  is  to  "plant  and  water.2 
We  venture  therefore  to  ask  the  children  of  the 
Church,  who  desire  to  see  her  Prayer  loved  and  used 
above  all  others,  to  aid  us  by  recommending  our  work 
to  God,  that  so  our  unworthiness  may  not  be  an 
obstacle  to  what  we  have  undertaken,  and  which  we 
feel  to  be  so  much  above  our  strength. 

We  have  only  to  add,  that  we  submit  our  work, 
both  in  its  substance  and  its  form,  to  the  sovereign 
and  infallible  judgment  of  the  Holy  Roman  Church, 
which  alone  is  the  guardian  both  of  the  Words  of 
eternal  life,  and  of  the  secret  of  Prayer. 

1  St.  John,  iii.  8.  2  I.  Cor.  in.  6. 


ADVENT 


CHAPTER  THE  FIRST. 

THE  HISTORY  OF   ADVENT. 

The  name  Advent1  is  applied,  in  the  Latin  Church, 
to  that  period  of  the  year,  during  which  the  Church 
requires  the  faithful  to  prepare  for  the  celebration  of 
the  Feast  of  Christmas,  the  anniversary  of  the  Birth 
of  Jesus  Christ.  The  mystery  of  that  great  day  had 
every  right  to  the  honour  of  being  prepared  for  by 
prayer  and  works  of  penance  ;  and,  in  fact,  it  is  im- 
possible to  state,  with  any  certainty,  when  this 
season  of  preparation  (which  had  long  been  observed 
before  receiving  its  present  name  of  Advent)  was 
first  instituted.  It  would  seem,  however,  that  its 
observance  first  began  in  the  West,  since  it  is  evident 
that  Advent  could  not  have  been  looked  on  as  a  pre- 
paration for  the  Feast  of  Christmas,  until  that  Feast 
was  definitively  fixed  to  the  twenty-fifth  of  December : 
which  was  only  done  in  the  East,  towards  the  close 
of  the  fourth  century ;  whereas,  it  is  certain,  that  the 
Church  of  Rome  kept  the  feast  on  that  day  at  a 
much  earlier  period. 

We  must  look  upon  Advent  in  two  different  lights  : 
first,  as  a  time  of  preparation,  properly  so  called,  for 
the  Birth  of  our  Saviour,  by  works  of  penance ;  and 

1  From  the  Latin  word  Adventus,  which  signifies  a  Coming. 


24  ADVENT. 

secondly,  as  a  series  of  Ecclesiastical  Offices  drawn 
up  for  the  same  purpose.  We  find,  as  far  back  as 
the  fifth  century,  the  custom  of  giving  exhortations 
to  the  people  in  order  to  prepare  them  for  the  Feast 
of  Christmas.  We  have  two  Sermons  of  Saint 
Maximus  of  Turin  on  this  subject,  not  to  speak  of 
several  others,  which  were  formerly  attributed  to  St. 
Ambrose  and  St.  Augustine,  but  which  were  proba- 
bly written  by  St.  Cesarius  of  Aries.  If  these  docu- 
ments do  not  tell  us  what  was  the  duration  and  the 
exercises  of  this  holy  season,  they  at  least  show  us 
how  ancient  was  the  practice  of  distinguishing  the 
time  of  Advent  by  special  sermons.  St.  Ivo  of 
Chartres,  St.  Bernard,  and  several  other  Doctors  of 
the  eleventh  and  twelfth  centuries,  have  left  us  set 
sermons  de  Adventu  Domini,  quite  distinct  from 
their  Sunday  Homilies  on  the  Gospels  of  that  season. 
In  the  Capitularia  of  Charles  the  Bald,  in  846,  the 
Bishops  admonish  that  Prince  not  to  call  them  away 
from  their  churches  during  Lent  or  Advent,  under 
pretext  of  affairs  of  the  State  or  the  necessities  of 
war,  seeing  that  they  have  special  duties  to  fulfil, 
and  particularly  that  of  preaching  during  those 
sacred  times. 

The  oldest  document,  in  which  we  find  the  length 
and  exercises  of  Advent  mentioned  with  anything 
like  clearness,  is  a  passage  in  the  second  book  of  the 
History  of  the  Franks  by  St.  Gregory  of  Tours,  where 
he  says  that  St.  Perpetuus,  one  of  his  predecessors, 
who  held  that  See  about  the  year  480,  had  decreed 
a  fast  three  times  a  week,  from  the  feast  of  St.  Martin 
until  Christmas.  It  would  be  impossible  to  decide 
whether  St.  Perpetuus,  by  this  regulation,  established 
a  new  custom,  or  merely  enforced  an  already  existing 
law.  Let  us,  however,  note  this  interval  of  forty,  or 
rather  of  forty-three  days,  so  expressly  mentioned, 
and  consecrated  to  penance,  as  though  it  were  a  second 


HISTOEY  OF  ADVENT.  25 

Lent,  though  less  strict  and  severe  than  that  which 
precedes  Easter. 

Later  on,  we  find  the  ninth  canon  of  the  first 
Council  of  Macon,  he]d  in  582,  ordaining  that  during 
the  same  interval,  between  St.  Martin's  Day  and 
Christmas,  the  Mondays,  Wednesdays,  and  Fridays, 
should  be  fasting  days,  and  that  the  Sacrifice  should 
be  celebrated  according  to'^ihe  Lenten  Rite.  Not 
many  years  before  that,  namely  in  567,  the  second 
Council  of  Tours  had  enjoined  the  monks  to  fast 
from  the  beginning  of  December  till  Christmas. 
This  practice  of  penance  soon  extended  to  the 
whole  forty  days,  even  for  the  laity  ;  and  it  was 
commonly  called  St.  Martin's  Lent.  The  Capitularia 
of  Charlemagne,  in  the  sixth  book,  leave  us  no 
doubt  on  the  matter;  and  Rabanus  Maurus,  in  the 
second  book  of  his  Institution  of  Clerics,  bears  tes- 
timony to  this  observance.  There  were  even  special 
rejoicings  made  on  St.  Martin's  Feast,  just  as  we 
see  them  practised  now  at  the  approach  of  Lent  and 
Easter. 

The  obligation  of  observing  this  Lent,  which,  though 
introduced  so  imperceptibly,  had  by  degrees  acquired 
the  force  of  a  sacred  law,  began  to  be  relaxed,  and 
the  forty  days  from  St.  Martin's  Day  to  Christmas 
were  reduced  to  four  weeks.  We  have  seen  that  this 
fast  began  to  be  observed  first  in  France ;  but  thence 
it  spread  into  England,  as  we  find  from  Venerable 
Bede's  History  ;  into  Italy,  as  appears  from  a  diploma 
of  Astolphus,  King  of  the  Lombards,  dated  758  ;  into 
Germany,  Spain,  &c,  of  which  the  proofs  may  be  seen 
in  the  learned  work  of  Dorn  Martene,  On  the  Ancient 
Rites  of  the  Church.  The  first  allusion  to  Advent's 
being  reduced  to  four  weeks,  is  to  be  found  in  the  ninth 
century,  in  a  letter  of  Pope  St.  Nicholas  the  First  to  the 
Bulgarians.  The  testimony  of  Ratherius  of  Verona, 
and  of  Abbo  of  Fleurjr,  both  writers  of  the  tenth 
century,  goes  also  to  prove  that,  even  then,  the  ques- 


26  ADVENT. 

tion  of  reducing  the  duration  of  trie  Advent  fast  by 
one-third  was  seriously  entertained.  It  is  true,  that 
St.  Peter  Damian,  in  the  eleventh  century,  speaks 
of  the  Advent  fast  as  still  being  for  forty  days ; 
and  that  St.  Louis,  two  centuries  later,  kept  it 
for  that  length  of  time  ;  but  as  far  as  this  holy 
King  is  concerned,  it  is  probable  that  it  was  only 
his  own  devotion  which  prompted  him  to  this  prac- 
tice. 

The  discipline  of  the  Churches  of  the  West,  after 
having  reduced  the  time  of  the  Advent  fast,  so  far 
relented,  in  a  few  years,  as  to  change  the  fast  into  a 
simple  abstinence ;  and  we  even  find  Councils  of  the 
twelfth  century,  for  instance,  Selingstadt  in  1122,  and 
Avranches  in  1172,  which  seem  to  require  only  the 
clergy  to  observe  this  abstinence.  The  Council  of 
Salisbury,  held  in  1281,  would  seem  to  expect  none 
but  monks  to  keep  it.  On  the  other  hand,  (for  the 
whole  subject  is  very  confused,  owing,  no  doubt,  to 
there  never  having  been  any  uniformity  of  discipline 
regarding  it  in  the  Western  Church,)  we  find  Pope 
Innocent  III,  in  his  letter  to  the  Bishop  of  Braga, 
mentioning  the  custom  of  fasting  during  the  whole 
of  Advent,  as  being  at  that  time  observed  in  Rome  ; 
and  Durandus,  in  the  same  thirteenth  century,  in 
his  Rational  on  the  Divine  Offices,  tells  us  that,  in 
France,  fasting  was  uninterruptedly  observed  during 
the  whole  of  that  holy  time. 

This  much  is  certain,  that,  by  degrees,  the  custom  of 
fasting  so  far  fell  into  disuse,  that  when,  in  1362,  Pope 
Urban  the  Fifth  endeavoured  to  prevent  the  total  decay 
of  the  Advent  penance,  all  he  insisted  upon  was  that  all 
the  clerics  of  his  court  should  keep  abstinence  during 
Advent,  without  in  any  way  including  others, 
either  clergy  or  laity,  in  this  law.  St.  Charles 
Borromeo  also  strove  to  bring  back  his  people  of 
Milan,  to  the  spirit,  if  not  to  the  letter,  of  ancient 
times.     In  his  fourth  Council,  he  enjoins  the  parish 


HISTORY   OF  ADVENT.  27 

priests  to  exhort  the  faithful  to  go  to  communion  on 
the  Sundays,  at  least,  of  Lent  and  Advent;  and  after- 
wards addressed  to  the  faithful  themselves  a  Pastoral 
Letter,  in  which,  after  having  reminded  them  of  the 
dispositions  wherewith  they  ought  to  spend  this  holy 
time,  he  strongly  urges  them  to  fast  on  the  Mondays, 
Wednesdays,  and  Fridays,  at  least,  of  each  week  in 
Advent.  Finally,  Pope  Benedict  the  Fourteenth, 
when  Archbishop  of  Bologna,  following  these  illus- 
trious examples,  wrote  his  eleventh  Ecclesiastical 
Institution  for  the  purpose  of  exciting  in  the  mind 
of  his  diocesans  the  exalted  idea  which  the  Christians 
of  former  times  bad  of  the  holy  season  of  Advent, 
and  to  the  removing  an  erroneous  opinion  which 
prevailed  in  those  parts,  namely,  that  Advent  only 
concerned  Religious,  and  not  the  laity.  He  shows 
them,  that  such  an  opinion,  unless  it  be  limited  to 
the  two  practices  of  fasting  and  abstinence,  is  strictly 
speaking,  rash  and  scandalous,  since  it  cannot  be 
denied  that,  in  the  laws  and  usages  of  the  universal 
Church,  there  exist  special  practices,  having  for  their 
end  the  preparing  the  faithful  for  the  great  feast  of 
the  Birth  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  Greek  Church  still  continues  to  observe  the 
fast  of  Advent,  though  with  much  less  rigour  than 
that  of  Lent.  It  consists  of  forty  days,  beginning 
with  the  14th  of  November,  the  day  on  which  this 
Church  keeps  the  feast  of  the  Apostle  St.  Philip. 
During  this  entire  period,  the  people  abstain  from 
flesh-meat,  butter,  milk,  and  eggs ;  but  they  are 
allowed,  which  they  are  not  during  Lent,  fish,  oil, 
and  wine.  Fasting,  in  its  strict  sense,  is  only  bind- 
ing on  seven  out  of  the  forty  days ;  and  the  whole 
period  goes  under  the  name  of  St.  Philip's  Lent.  The 
Greeks  justify  these  relaxations  by  this  distinction  ; 
that  the  Lent  before  Christmas  is,  so  they  say,  only 
an  institution  of  the  monks,  whereas  the  Lent  before 
Easter  is  of  Apostolic  institution. 


28  ADVENT. 

Bat,  if  the  exterior  practices  of  penance  which  for- 
merly sanctified  the  season  of  Advent,  have  been,  in 
the  Western  Church,  so  gradually  relaxed  as  to  have 
become  now  quite  obsolete  except  in  monasteries  ;l 
the  general  character  of  the  Liturgy  of  this  holy  time 
has  not  changed;  and  it  is  by  their  zeal  in  foil  owing 
its  spirit,  that  the  Faithful  will  prove  their  earnest- 
ness in  preparing  for  Christmas. 

The  liturgical  form  of  Advent  as  it  now  exists  in 
the  Roman  Church,  has  gone  through  certain  modi- 
fications. St.  Gregory  seems  to  have  been  the  first 
to  draw  up  the  Office  for  this  season,  which  originally 
included  five  Sundays,  as  is  evident  from  the  most 
ancient  Sacramentaries  of  this  great  Pope.  It  even 
appears  probable,  and  the  opinion  has  been  adopted 
by  Amalarius  of  Metz,  Berno  of  Bichenaw,  Dom 
Martene,  and  Benedict  the  Fourteenth,  that  St. 
Gregory  originated  the  ecclesiastical  precept  of  Ad- 
vent, although  the  custom  of  devoting  a  longer  or 
shorter  period  to  a  preparation  for  Christmas  has 
been  observed  from  time  immemorial,  and  the  absti- 
nence and  fast  of  this  holy  season  first  began  in 
France.  St.  Gregory  therefore  fixed,  for  the  Churches 
of  the  Latin  rite,  the  form  of  the  Office  for  this  Lent- 
like season,  and  sanctioned  the  fast  which  had  been 
established,  granting  a  certain  latitude  to  the  several 
Churches  as  to  the  manner  of  its  observance. 

The  Sacramentary  of  St.  Gelasius  has  neither  Mass 
nor  Office  of  preparation  for  Christmas;  the  first 
we  meet  with  are  in  the  Gregorian  Sacramentary, 
and,  as  we  just  observed,  these  Masses  are  five  in 
number.  It  is  remarkable  that  these  Sundays  were 
then  counted  inversely,  that  is,  the  nearest  to  Christ- 
mas was  called  the  first  Sunday,  and  so  on  with  the 
rest.     So  far  back  as  the  ninth  and  tenth  centuries, 

1  Our  English  observance  of  Fast  and  Abstinence  on  the  Wed- 
nesdays and  Fridays  in  Advent,  may,  in  some  sense,  be  regarded 
as  a  remnant  of  the  ancient  discipline.     [Note  of  the  Ti\~\ 


HISTOEY   OF   ADVENT.  29 

these  Sundays  were  reduced  to  four,  as  we  learn  from 
Amalarius,  St.  Nicholas  the  First,  Berno  of  Richenaw, 
Ratherius  of  Verona, &c, and  such  also  is  their  number 
in  the  Gregorian  Sacramentary  of  Pamelius,  which  ap- 
pears to  have  been  transcribed  about  this  same  period. 
From  that  time,  the  Roman  Church  has  always  ob- 
served this  arrangement  of  Advent,  which  gives  it 
four  weeks,  the  fourth  beings  that  in  which  Christmas 
Day  falls,  unless  the  25th  of  December  be  a  Sunday. 
We  may  therefore  consider  the  present  discipline  of 
the  observance  of  Advent  as  having  lasted  a  thousand 
years,  at  least  as  far  as  the  Church  of  Rome  is  con- 
cerned; for  some  of  the  Churches  in  France  kept  up 
the  number  of  five  Sundays  as  late  as  the  thirteenth 
century. 

The  Ambrosian  Liturgy,  even  to  this  day,  has  six 
weeks  of  Advent;  so  has  the  Gothic  or  Mozarabic 
Missal.  As  regards  the  Gallican  Liturgy,  the  frag- 
ments collected  by  Dom  Mabillon  give  us  no  informa- 
tion ;  but  it  is  natural  to  suppose  with  this  learned 
man,  whose  opinion  has  been  confirmed  by  Dom 
Marten e,  that  the  Church  of  Gaul  adopted,  in  this 
as  in  so  many  other  points,  the  usages  of  the  Gothic 
Church,  that  is  to  say,  that  its  Advent  consisted  of  six 
Sundays  and  six  weeks. 

With  regard  to  the  Greeks,  their  Rubrics  for  Ad- 
vent are  given  in  the  Mensea,  immediately  after  the 
Office  for  the  14th  of  November.  They  have  no 
proper  Office  for  Advent,  neither  do  they  celebrate 
during  this  time  the  Mass  of  the  Presanctified,  as 
they  do  in  Lent.  There  are  only  in  the  Offices  for 
the  Saints,  whose  feasts  occur  between  the  14th  of 
November  and  the  Sunday  nearest  Christmas,  fre- 
quent allusions  to  the  Birth  of  the  Saviour,  to  the 
Maternity  of  Mary,  to  the  cave  of  Bethlehem,  &c. 
On  the  Sunday  preceding  Christmas,  in  order  to 
celebrate  the  expected  coming  of  the  Messias,  they 
keep  what  they  call  the  Feast  of  the  Holy  Fathers, 


30  ADVENT. 

that  is  the  commemoration  of  the  Saints  of  the  Old 
Law.  They  give  the  name  of  Ante-Feast  of  the 
Nativity  to" the  20th,  21st,  22nd,  and  23rd  December  ; 
and  although  they  say  the  office  of  several  Saints  on 
these  four  days,  yet  the  mystery  of  the  Birth  of  Jesus 
pervades  the  whole  Liturgy. 


CHAPTER  THE  SECOND. 

THE  MYSTEEY  OF  ADVENT. 

If,  now  that  we  have  described  the  characteristic 
features  of  Advent,  which  distinguish  it  from  the 
rest  of  the  year,  we  would  penetrate  into  the  profound 
mystery  which  occupies  the  mind  of  the  Church 
during  this  season,  we  find  that  this  mystery  of  the 
Coming,  or  Advent,  of  Jesus  is  at  once  simple  and 
threefold.  It  is  simple,  for  it  is  the  one  same  Son 
of  God  that  is  coming;  it  is  threefold,  because  he 
comes  at  three  different  times  and  in  three  different 
ways. 

"  In  the  first  Coming,"  says  St.  Bernard,  "  he  comes 
"in  the  flesh  and  in  weakness;  in  the  second,  he 
"  comes  in  spirit  and  in  power ;  in  the  third,  he  comes 
"  in  glory  and  in  majesty  ;  and  the  second  Coming  is 
"the  means  whereby  we  pass  from  the  first  to  the 
"third."1 

This,  then,  is  the  mystery  of  Advent.  Let  us  now 
listen  to  the  explanation  of  this  threefold  visit  of 
Christ,  given  to  us  by  Peter  of  Blois,  in  his  third 
Sermon  de  Adventu  :  "  There  are  three  Comings  of 
"  our  Lord ;  the  first  in  the  flesh,  the  second  in  the 
"soul,  the  third  at  the  judgment.  The  first  was  at 
"  midnight,  according  to  those  words  of  the  Gospel : 
"At  midnight  there  was  a  cry  made,  Lo  the  Bride- 
" groom  cometh !  But  this  first  Coming  is  long 
"  since  past,  for  Christ  has  been  seen  on  the  earth 
"  and  has  conversed  among  men.  We  are  now  in 
"  the  second  Coming,  provided  only  we  are  such  as 
"  that  he  may  thus  come  to  us ;  for  he  has  said  that 
"  if  we  love  him,  he  will  come  unto  us  and  will  take 

1  Fifth  Sermon  for  Advent. 


32  ADVENT. 

"  up  his  abode  with  us.  So  that  this  second  Coming 
"  is  full  of  uncertainty  to  us  ;  for  who,  save  the  Spirit 
"  of  God,  knows  them  that  are  of  God  ?  They  that 
"  are  raised  out  of  themselves  by  the  desire  of 
"heavenly  things,  know  indeed  when  he  comes  ;  but 
"  whence  he  cometh,  or  whither  he  goeth,  they  know 
"  not  As  for  the  third  Coming,  it  is  most  certain 
"  that  it  will  be,  most  uncertain  when  it  will  be ;  for 
"nothing  is  more  sure  than  death,  and  nothing  less 
"  sure  than  the  hour  of  death.  When  they  shall  say, 
"  peace  and  security,  says  the  Apostle,  then  shall 
"  sudden  destruction  come  upon  them,  as  the  pains 
"  upon  her  that  is  with  child,  and  they  shall  not 
"  escape.  So  that  the  first  Coming  was  humble  and 
"hidden,  the  second  is  mysterious  and  full  of  love,  the 
"  third  will  be  majestic  and  terrible.  In  his  first 
"  Coming,  Christ  was  judged  by  men  unjustly  ;  in  his 
"  second,  he  renders  us  just  by  his  grace ;  in  his  third, 
"  he  will  judge  all  things  with  justice.  In  his  first,  a 
"  Lamb ;  in  his  last,  a  Lion  ;  in  the  one  between  the 
"  two,  the  tenderest  of  Friends."  -1 

The  holy  Church,  therefore,  during  Advent,  awaits 
in  tears  and  with  ardour  the  arrival  of  her  Jesus  in 
his  first  Coming.  For  this,  she  borrows  the  fervid 
expressions  of  the  Prophets,  to  which  she  joins  her 
own  supplications.  These  longings  for  the  Messias 
expressed  by  the  Church,  are  not  a  mere  commemo- 
ration of  the  desires  of  the  ancient  Jewish  people ; 
they  have  a  reality  and  efficacy  of  their  own, — an 
influence  in  the  great  act  of  God's  munificence, 
whereby  he  gave  us  his  own  Son.  From  all  eternity, 
the  prayers  of  the  ancient  Jewish  people  and  the 
prayers  of  the  Christian  Church  ascended  together 
to  the  prescient  hearing  of  God ;  and  it  was  after 
receiving  and  granting  them,  that  he  sent,  in  the 
appointed  time,  that  blessed  dew  upon  the  earth, 
which  made  it  bud  forth  the  Saviour. 
1  De  Adventu,  Sermo  III. 


MYSTERY  OF  ADVENT.  33 

The  Church  aspires  also  to  the  second  Coming,  the 
consequence  of  the  first,  which  consists,  as  we  have 
just  seen,  in  the  visit  of  the  Bridegroom  to  the  Spouse. 
This  Coming  takes  place,  each  year,  at  the  feast  of 
Christmas,  when  the  new  birth  of  the  Son  of  God 
delivers  the  faithful  from  that  yoke  of  bondage,  under 
which  the  enemy  would  oppress  them.1  The  Church, 
therefore,  during  Advent,  prays  that  she  may  be 
visited  by  Him  who  is  her  Head  and  her  Spouse ; 
visited  in  her  hierarchy;  visited  in  her  members,  of 
whom  some  are  living,  and  some  are  dead,  but  may 
come  to  life  again ;  visited,  lastly,  in  those  who  are 
not  in  communion  with  her,  and  even  in  the  very 
infidels,  that  so  they  may  be  converted  to  the  true 
light,  which  shines  even  for  them.  The  expressions 
of  the  Liturgy  which  the  Church  makes  use  of  to  ask 
for  this  loving  and  invisible  Coming,  are  those  which 
she  employs  when  begging  for  the  coming  of  Jesus  in 
the  flesh;  for  the  two  visits  are  for  the  same  object. 
In  vain  would  the  Son  of  God  have  come,  eighteen 
hundred  years  ago,  to  visit  and  save  mankind,  unless 
he  came  again  for  each  one  of  us  and  at  every 
moment  of  our  lives,  bringing  to  us  and  cherishing 
within  us  that  supernatural  life,  of  which  he  and  his 
Holy  Spirit  are  the  sole  principle. 

But  this  annual  visit  of  the  Spouse  does  not  con- 
tent the  Church  ;  she  aspires  after  a  third  Coming, 
which  will  complete  all  things  by  opening  the  gates 
of  eternity.  She  has  caught  up  the  last  words  of 
her  Spouse,  Surely,  I  am  coming  quickly  ;2  and  she 
cries  out  to  him,  Ah!  Lord  Jesus  !  come  !3  She  is 
impatient  to  be  loosed  from  her  present  temporal 
state  ;  she  longs  for  the  number  of  the  elect  to  be 
filled  up,  and  to  see  appear,  in  the  clouds  of  heaven, 
the  sign  of  her  Deliverer  and  her  Spouse.  Her  desires, 
expressed  by  her  Advent  Liturgy,  go  even  as  far  as 

1  Collect  for  Christmas  Day.  2  Apoc.  xxii.  20.         3  Ibid. 

D 


34  ADVENT. 

this :  and  here  we  have  the  explanation  of  those 
words  of  the  beloved  Disciple  in  his  prophecy  :  The 
nuptials  of  the  Lamb  are  come,  and  his  Spouse  hath 
prepared  herself} 

But  the  day  of  this  his  last  ComiDg  to  her,  will  be  a 
day  of  terror.  The  Church  frequently  trembles  at  the 
very  thought  of  that  awful  judgment,  in  which  all 
mankind  is  to  be  tried.  She  calls  it  "  a  day  of  wrath, 
"  on  which,  as  David  and  the  Sibyl  have  foretold,  the 
"  world  will  be  reduced  to  ashes ;  a  day  of  weeping 
"  and  fear."  Not  that  she  fears  for  herself,  since  she 
knows  that  this  day  will  for  ever  secure  to  her  the 
crown,  as  being  the  Spouse  of  Jesus  ;  but  her  maternal 
heart  is  troubled  at  the  thought  that,  on  the  same  day, 
so  many  of  her  children  will  be  on  the  left  hand  of  the 
Judge,  and,  having  no  share  with  the  elect,  will  be 
bound  hand  and  foot,  and  cast  into  the  darkness, where 
there  shall  be  everlasting  weeping  and  gnashing  of 
teeth.  This  is  the  reason  why  the  Church,  in  the 
Liturgy  of  Advent,  so  frequently  speaks  of  the  Com- 
ing of  Christ  as  a  terrible  Coming,  and  selects  from 
the  Scriptures  those  passages,  which  are  most  calcu- 
lated to  awaken  a  salutary  fear  in  the  mind  of  such 
of  her  children  as  may  be  sleeping  the  sleep  of  sin. 

This,  then,  is  the  threefold  mystery  of  Advent. 
The  liturgical  forms  in  which  it  is  embodied,  are  of 
two  kinds  :  the  one  consists  of  prayers,  passages  from 
the  Bible,  and  similar  formulas,  in  all  of  which,  words 
themselves  are  employed  to  convey  the  sentiments 
which  we  have  been  explaining ;  the  other  consists 
of  external  rites  peculiar  to  this  holy  time,  which, 
by  speaking  to  the  outward  senses,  complete  the 
expressiveness  of  the  chants  and  words. 

First  of  all,  there  is  the  number  of  the  days  of 
Advent.  Forty  was  the  number  originally  adopted 
by  the   Church,  and  it  is  still  maintained  in  the 

1  Apoc.  xix.  7. 


MYSTERY  OF  ADVENT.  35 

Ambrosian  liturgy,  and  in  the  Eastern  Church.  If,  at 
a  later  period,  the  Church  of  Rome,  and  those  who 
follow  her  Liturgy,  have  changed  the  number  of  days, 
the  same  idea  is  still  expressed  in  the  four  weeks 
which  have  been  substituted  for  the  forty  days.  The 
new  Birth  of  our  Redeemer  takes  place  after  four 
weeks,  as  the  first  Nativity  happened  after  four 
thousand  years,  according  to  t)ie  Hebrew  and  Yulgate 
Chronology. 

As  in  Lent,  so  likewise  during  Advent,  Marriage 
is  not  solemnised,  lest  worldly  joy  should  distract 
Christians  from  those  serious  thoughts  wherewith  the 
expected  Coming  of  the  Sovereign  Judge  ought  to 
inspire  them,  or  from  that  dearly  cherished  hope 
which  the  friends  of  the  Bridegroom1  have  of  being 
soon  called  to  the  eternal  Nuptial-feast. 

The  people  are  forcibly  reminded  of  the  sadness 
which  fills  the  heart  of  the  Church  by  the  sombre 
colour  of  the  Vestments.  Excepting  on  the  Feasts  of 
the  Saints,  purple  is  the  only  colour  she  uses  ;  the 
Deacon  does  not  wear  the  Dalmatic,  nor  the  Sub- 
deacon  the  Tunic.  Formerly  it  wTas  the  custom,  in 
some  places,  to  wear  Black  Vestments.  This  mourn- 
ing of  the  Church  shows  how  fully  she  unites  herself 
with  those  true  Israelites  of  old,  who,  clothed  in  sack- 
cloth and  ashes,  waited  for  the  Messias,  and  bewailed 
Sion  that  she  had  not  her  beauty,  and  "  Juda,  that 
"  the  sceptre  had  been  taken  from  him,  till  He  should 
"come  whowasto  be  sent, the  expectation  of  nations."2 
It  also  signifies  the  works  of  penance,  whereby  she 
prepares  for  the  second  Coming,  full  as  it  is  of  sweet- 
ness and  mystery,  which  is  realised  in  the  souls  of 
men,  in  proportion  as  they  appreciate  the  tender  love 
of  that  Divine  Guest,  who  has  said  :  My  delights  are 
to  be  with  the  children  of  men.3  It  expresses, 
thirdly,  the  desolation  of  this  Spouse  wTho  yearns  after 

1  St.  John,  iii.  29.  2  Gen.  xlix.  10.  3  Prov.  viii.  31. 


36  ADVENT. 

her  Beloved,  who  is  long  a-coming.  Like  the  turtle 
dove,  she  moans  her  loneliness,  longing  for  the  voice 
which  will  say  to  her :  Come  from  Libanus,  my 
Spouse  !  come,  thou  shalt  be  crowned  : — thou  hast 
wounded  my  heart} 

The  Church  also,  during  Advent,  excepting  on  the 
Feasts  of  Saints,  suppresses  the  Angelic  Canticle, 
Gloria  in  excelsis  Deo,  et  in  terra  pax  hominibus 
bono3  voluntatis  ;  for  this  glorious  Song  was  only  sung 
at  Bethlehem  over  the  crib  of  the  Divine  Babe  ; — the 
tongue  of  the  Angels  is  not  loosened  yet ; — the  Virgin 
has  not  yet  brought  forth  her  divine  treasure ; — it  is 
not  yet  time  to  sing,  it  is  not  even  true  to  say,  Glory 
be  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  peace  on  earth  to  men 
of  good  will ! 

Again,  at  the  end  of  Mass,  the  Deacon  does  not 
dismiss  the  assembly  of  the  faithful  by  the  words : 
Ite,  Missa  est.  He  substitutes  the  ordinary  greeting  : 
Benedicamus  Domino  I  as  though  the  Church  feared 
to  interrupt  the  prayers  of  the  people,  which  could 
scarce  be  too  long  during  these  days  of  expectation. 

In  the  Night  Office,  the  Holy  Church  also  suspends, 
on  those  same  days,  the  hymn  of  jubilation,  Te  Deum 
laudamus.  It  is  in  deep  humility  that  she  awaits 
the  supreme  blessing  which  is  to  come  to  her;  and 
in  the  interval,  she  presumes  only  to  ask,  and  entreat, 
and  hope.  But  let  the  glorious  hour  come,  when,  in 
the  midst  of  darkest  night,  the  Sun  of  Justice  will 
suddenly  rise  upon  the  world, — then  iudeed  she  will 
resume  her  hymn  of  thanksgiving,  and  all  over  the 
face  of  the  earth,  the  silence  of  midnight  will  be 
broken  by  this  shout  of  enthusiasm  :  "  We  praise  thee, 
"  O  God  !  we  acknowledge  thee  to  be  our  Lord  !  Thou, 
"  O  Christ,  art  the  King  of  glory,  the  everlasting  Son 
"  of  the  Father  !  Thou,  being  to  deliver  man,  didst 
"  not  disdain  the  Virgin's  womb  !" 

iCant.  iv.  8,  9. 


MYSTEEY  OF  ADVENT.  37 

On  the  Ferial  Days,  the  Rubrics  of  Advent  pre- 
scribe that  certain  prayers  should  be  said  kneeling, 
at  the  end  of  each  Canonical  Hour,  and  that  the  Choir 
should  also  kneel  during  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
Mass.  In  this  respect,  the  usages  of  Advent  are  pre- 
cisely the  same  as  those  of  Lent. 

But  there  is  one  feature  winch  distinguishes  Ad- 
vent most  markedly  from  Lent :  the  word  of  gladness, 
the  joyful  Alleluia,  is  not  interrupted  during  Advent, 
except  once  or  twice  during  the  ferial  office.  It  is 
sung  in  the  Masses  of  the  four  Sundays,  and  vividly 
contrasts  with  the  sombre  colour  of  the  Vestments. 
On  one  of  these  Sundays — the  third — the  prohibition 
of  using  the  organ  is  removed,  and  we  are  gladdened 
by  its  grand  notes,  and  rose-coloured  Vestments  may 
be  used  instead  of  the  purple.  These  vestiges  of  joy, 
thus  blended  with  the  holy  mournfulness  of  the 
Church,  tell  us,  in  a  most  expressive  way,  that  though 
she  unites  with  the  ancient  people  of  God  in  praying 
for  the  coming  of  the  Messias,  (thus  paying  the  debt 
which  the  entire  human  race  owes  to  the  justice  and 
mercy  of  God,)  she  does  not  forget  that  the  Emmanuel 
is  already  come  to  her,  that  he  is  in  her,  and  that  even 
before  she  has  opened  her  lips  to  ask  him  to  save  her, 
she  has  been  already  redeemed  and  predestined  to  an 
eternal  union  with  him.  This  is  the  reason  why  the 
Alleluia  accompanies  even  her  sighs,  and  why  she 
seems  to  be  at  once  joyous  and  sad,  waiting  for  the 
coming  of  that  holy  night  which  will  be  brighter  to 
her  than  the  most  sunny  of  days,  and  on  which  her 
joy  will  expel  all  her  sorrow. 


CHAPTER  THE  THIKD. 

PRACTICE      DURING     ADVENT. 

If  our  holy  mother  the  Church  spends  the  time  of 
Advent  in  this  solemn  preparation  for  the  threefold 
Coming  of  Jesus  Christ ;  if,  after  the  example  of  the 
prudent  Virgins,  she  keeps  her  lamp  lit  ready  for  the 
coming  of  the  Bridegroom  ;  we,  being  her  members 
and  her  children,  ought  to  enter  into  her  spirit,  and 
apply  to  ourselves  this  warning  of  our  Saviour  :  Let 
your  loins  be  girt,  and  lamps  burning  in  your 
hands,  and  ye  yourselves  be  like  unto  men  who 
wait  for  their  Lord  I1  The  Church  and  we  have, 
in  reality,  the  same  hopes.  Each  one  of  us  is,  on 
the  part  of  God,  an  object  of  mercy  and  care  as  is 
the  Church  herself.  If  she  is  the  temple  of  God,  it 
is  because  she  is  built  of  living  stones ;  if  she  is  the 
Spouse,  it  is  because  she  consists  of  all  the  souls 
which  are  invited  to  eternal  anion  with  God.  If  it 
is  written  that  the  Saviour  hath  purchased  the 
Church  with  his  own  Blood?  may  not  each  one  of  us 
say  of  himself  those  words  of  St.  Paul,  Christ  hath 
loved  me,  and  hath  delivered  himself  up  for  me  f 
Our  destiny  being  the  same,  then,  as  that  of  the 
Church,  we  should  endeavour  during  Advent,  to 
enter  into  the  spirit  of  preparation,  wThich  is,  as  we 
have  seen,  that  of  the  Church  herself. 

And  firstly,  it  is  our  duty  to  join  with  the  Saints 
of  the  Old  Law  in  asking  for  the  Messias,  and  thus 
pay  the  debt  which  the  whole  human  race  owes  to 
the  divine  mercy.  In  order  to  fulfil  this  duty  with 
fervour,  let  us  go  back  in  thought  to   those   four 

1  St.  Luke,  xii.  35.  2  Acts,  xx.  28.  3  Gal.  ii.  20. 


PRACTICE  DURING  ADVENT.  39 

thousand  years,  represented  by  the  four  -weeks  of 
Advent,  and  reflect  on  the  darkness  and  crime  which 
filled  the  world  before  our  Saviour's  cominsr.  Let 
our  hearts  be  filled  with  lively  gratitude  towards 
Him  who  saved  his  creature  Man  from  death,  and 
who  came  down  from  heaven  that  he  might  know 
our  miseries  by  himself  experiencing  them,  yes,  all 
of  them,  excepting  sin.  Let  us  cry  to  him  with  con- 
fidence from  the  depths  of  our  misery;  for,  notwith- 
standing his  having  saved  the  work  of  his  hands,  he 
still  wishes  us  to  beseech  him  to  save  us.  Let  there- 
fore our  desires  and  our  confidence  have  their  free 
utterance  in  the  ardent  supplications  of  the  ancient 
Prophets,  which  the  Church  puts  on  our  lips  during 
these  days  of  expectation;  let  us  give  our  closest 
attention  to  the  sentiments  which  they  express. 

This  first  duty  complied  with,  we  must  next  turn 
our  minds  to  the  Coming  which  our  Saviour  wishes 
to  accomplish  in  our  own  hearts.  It  is,  as  we  have 
seen,  a  Coming  full  of  sweetness  and  mystery,  and  a 
consequence  of  the  first ;  for  the  Good  Shepherd 
comes  not  only  to  visit  the  flock  in  general,  but  he 
extends  his  solicitude  to  each  one  of  the  sheep,  even 
to  the  hundredth  which  is  lost.  Now,  in  order  to 
appreciate  the  whole  of  this  ineffable  mystery,  we 
must  remember  that,  since  we  can  only  be  pleasing 
to  our  Heavenly  Father  inasmuch  as  he  sees  within 
us  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  this  amiable  Saviour  deigns 
to  come  into  each  one  of  us,  and  transform  us,  if  we 
will  but  consent,  into  himself,  so  that  henceforth  we 
may  live,  not  we,  but  he  in  us.  This  is,  in  reality, 
the  one  grand  aim  of  the  Christian  Religion,  to  make 
man  divine  through  Jesus  Christ :  it  is  the  task 
which  God  has  given  to  his  Church  to  do,  and  she 
says  to  the  faithful  what  St.  Paul  said  to  his  Gala 
tians  :  My  little  children,  of  whom  I  am  in  labour 
again,  until  Christ  be  formed  within  you!1 

1  Gal.  i\r.  19? 


40  -  ADVENT. 

But,  as  on  his  entering  into  this  world,  our  divine 
Saviour  first  showed  himself  under  the  form  of  a 
weak  Babe,  before  attaining  the  fulness  of  the  age  of 
manhood,  and  this  to  the  end  that  nothing  might  be 
wanting  to  his  sacrifice, — so  does  he  intend  to  do  in 
us  ;  there  is  to  be  a  progress  in  his  growth  within  us. 
Now,  it  is  at  the  feast  of  Christmas  that  he  delights 
to  be  born  in  our  souls,  and  that  he  pours  out  over 
the  whole. Church  a  grace  of  being  born,  to  which, 
however,  all  are  not  faithful. 

For,  this  glorious  solemnity,  as  often  as  it  comes 
round,  finds  three  classes  of  men.  The  first,  and  the 
smallest  number,  are  they  who  live,  in  all  its  pleni- 
tude, the  life  of  Jesus  who  is  within  them,  and  aspire 
incessantly  after  the  increase  of  this  life.  The  second 
class  of  souls  is  more  numerous ;  they  are  living,  it 
is  true,  because  Jesus  is  in  them  ;  but  they  are  sick 
and  weakly,  because  they  care  not  to  grow  in  this 
divine  life  :  their  charity  has  become  cold  I1  The  rest 
of  men  make  up  the  third  division,  and  are  they  who 
have  no  part  of  this  life  in  them,  and  are  dead ;  for 
Christ  has  said  :  "J  am  the  Life/'2 

Now,  during  the  season  of  Advent,  our  Lord 
knocks  at  the  door  of  all  men's  hearts,  at  one  time 
so  forcibly,  that  they  must  needs  notice  him ;  at 
another,  so  softly  that  it  requires  attention  to  know 
that  Jesus  is  asking  admission.  He  comes  to  ask 
them  if  they  have  room  for  him,  for  he  wishes  to  be 
born  in  their  house.  The  house  indeed  is  his,  for  he 
built  it  and  preserves  it ;  yet  he  complains  that  his 
own  refused  to  receive  him;3  at  least  the  greater 
number  did.  But  as  many  as  received  him,  he  gave 
them  power  to  be  made  the  sons  of  God,  born  not  of 
blood,  nor  of  the  flesh,  but  of  God* 

He  will  be  born,  then,  with  more  beauty  and 
lustre  and  might  than  you  have  hitherto  seen  in 

1  Apoc.  ii.  4.     *  St.  John,  xiv.  6.     3  Ibid.  iii.      *  Ibid.  i.  12,  13. 


PRACTICE  DURING  ADVENT.  41 

him,  O  ye  faithful  ones,  who  hold  him  within  you  as 
your  only  treasure,  and  who  have  long  lived  no  other 
life  than  his,  shaping  your  thoughts  and  works  on 
the  model  of  his.  You  will  feel  the  necessity  of 
words  to  suit  and  express  your  love;  such  words  as 
he  delights  to  hear  you  speak  to  him.  You  will  find 
them  in  the  holy  Liturgy. 

You,  who  have  had  him  within  you,  without 
knowing  him,  and  have  possessed  him  without  re- 
lishing the  sweetness  of  his  presence,  open  your 
hearts  to  welcome  him,  this  time,  with  more  care  and 
love.  He  repeats  his  visit  of  this  year  with  an 
untiring  tenderness ;  he  has  forgotten  your  past 
slights  ;  he  would  "  that  all  things  be  new."1  Make 
room  for  the  Divine  Infant,  for  he  desires  to  grow 
within  your  soul.  The  time  of  his  coming  is  close  at 
hand  :  let  your  heart,  then,  be  on  the  watch  ;  and 
lest  you  should*  slumber  when  he  arrives,  watch  and 
pray,  yea,  sing.  The  words  of  the  Liturgy  are  in- 
tended also  for  your  use :  they  speak  of  darkness, 
which  only  God  can  enlighten  ;  of  wounds,  which 
only  his  mercy  can  heal ;  of  a  faintness,  which  can 
only  be  braced  by  his  divine  energy. 

And  you,  Christians,  for  whom  the  good  tidings 
are  as  things  that  are  not,  because  you  are  dead 
in  sin,  lo  !  He  who  is  very  life  is  coining  among 
you.  Yes,  whether  this  death  of  sin  has  held  you  as 
its  slave  for  long  years,  or  has  but  freshly  inflicted 
on  you  the  wound  which  made  you  its  victim,— 
Jesus,  your  Life,  is  coming  :  why,  then,  will  you 
die  ?  He  desireth  not  the  death  of  the  sinner,  but 
rather  that  he  be  converted  and  live.2  The  grand 
Feast  of  his  Birth  will  be  a  day  of  mercy  for  the 
whole  world  ;  at  least,  for  all  who  will  give  him 
admission  into  their  hearts :  they  will  rise  to  life 
again   in   him,   their   past   life   will   be    destroyed, 

1  Apoc.  xxi.  5.  2  Ezech.  xviii.  31-5. 


42  ADVENT. 

and   where  sin  abounded,  there  grace  will   more 
abound.1 

But,  if  the  tenderness  and  the  attractiveness  of 
this  mysterious  Coming  make  no  impression  on  you, 
because  your  heart  is  too  weighed  down  to  be  able  to 
rise  to  confidence,  and  because,  having  so  long  drunk 
sin  like  water,  you  know  not  what  it  is  to  long  with 
love  for  the  caresses  of  a  Father  whom  you  have 
slighted, — then  turn  your  thoughts  to  that  other 
Coming,  which  is  full  of  terror,  and  is  to  follow  the 
silent  one  of  grace  that  is  now  offered.  Think 
within  yourselves,  how  this  earth  of  ours  will  tremble 
at  the  approach  of  the  dread  Judge ;  how  the  heavens 
will  flee  from  before  his  face,  and  fold  up  as  a 
book  f  how  man  will  wince  under  his  angry  look  ; 
how  the  creature  will  wither  away  with  fear,  as  the 
two-edged  sword,  which  comes  from  the  mouth  of  his 
Creator,3  pierces  him;  and  how  sinners  will  cry  out, 
Ye  mountains,  fall  on  us !  ye  rocks,  cover  us  /* 
Those  unhappy  souls  who  would  not  know  the  time 
of  their  visitation, b  shall  then  vainly  wish  to  hide 
themselves  from  the  face  of  Jesus.  They  shut  their 
hearts  against  this  Man-God,  who,  in  his  excessive 
love  for  them,  wept  over  them ; — therefore,  on  the 
day  of  judgment  they  will  descend  alive  into  those 
everlasting  fires,  whose  flame  devoureth  the  earth 
with  her  increase,  and  burneth  the  foundations  of 
the  mountains.6  The  worm  that  never  dieth,7  the 
useless  eternal  repentance,  will  gnaw  them  for  ever. 

Let  those,  then,  who  are  not  touched  by  the  tid- 
ings of  the  Coming  of  the  Heavenly  Physician  and 
the  Good  Shepherd  who  giveth  his  life  for  his  sheep, 
meditate  during  Advent  on  the  awful  yet  certain 
truth,  that  so  many  render  the  redemption  unavail- 
able to  themselves  by  their  refusing  to  co-operate  in 

1  Rom.  v.  20.  *  St.  Luke,  xxiii.  30.  6  Deut.  xxx.  22. 

2  Apoc.  vi.  14.  6  Ibid.  xix.  44.  7  §t.  Mark,  ix.  43. 

3  Ibid.  i.  16. 


PRACTICE  DURING  ADVENT.  43 

their  own  salvation.  They  may  treat  the  Child  ivho 
is  to  be  born1  with  disdain ;  but  he  is  also  the  Mighty 
God,  and  do  they  think  they  can  withstand  him  on 
that  Day,  when  he  is  to  come,  not  to  save,  as  now, 
but  to  judge  1  Would  that  they  knew  more  of  this 
divine  Judge,  before  whom  the  'Tery  Saints  tremble  ! 
Let  them  also  use  the  Liturgy  of  this  season,  and 
they  will  there  learn  how  much  he  is  to  be  feared  by 
sinners. 

We  would  not  imply  by  this  that  only  sinners  need 
to  fear :  no,  every  Christian  ought  to  fear.  Fear, 
when  there  is  no  nobler  sentiment  with  it,  makes 
man  a  slave;  when  it  accompanies  love,  it  is  a  feel- 
ing which  fills  the  heart  of  a  child  who  has  offended 
his  father,  yet  seeks  for  pardon;  when,  at  length, 
love  casteth  out  fear,2  even  then  this  holy  fear  will 
sometimes  come,  and,  like  a  flash  of  lightning,  per- 
vade the  deepest  recesses  of  the  soul.  It  does  the 
soul  good.  She  wakes  up  afresh  to  a  keener  sense 
of  her  own  misery  and  of  the  unmerited  mercy  of  her 
Redeemer.  Let  no  one,  therefore,  think  that  he  may 
safely  pass  his  Advent  without  taking  any  share  in 
the  holy  fear  which  animates  the  Church.  She, 
though  so  beloved  by  God,  prays  to  him  to  give  her 
this  fear ;  and  every  day,  in  her  Office  of  Sext,  she 
thus  cries  out  to  him :  Pierce  my  flesh  with  thy 
Fear.  It  is,  however,  to  those  who  are  beginning  a 
good  life,  that  this  part  of  the  Advent  Liturgy  will 
be  peculiarly  serviceable. 

It  is  evident  from  what  we  have  said,  that  Advent 
is  a  season  specially  devoted  to  the  exercises  of  what 
is  called  the  Purgative  Life,  and  which  is  implied  in 
that  expression  of  St.  John,  so  continually  repeated 
by  the  Church  during  this  holy -time:  Prepare  ye 
the  way  of  the  Lord !  Let  all,  therefore,  strive 
earnestly  to  make  straight  the  path  by  which  Jesus 

Is.  ix.  6.  2 1.  St.  John,  iv.  18. 


44  ADVENT. 

will  enter  into  their  souls.  Let  the  just,  agreeably 
to  the  teaching  of  the  Apostle,  forget  the  things  that 
are  behind,1  and  labour  to  acquire  fresh  merit.  Let 
sinners  begin  at  once  and  break  the  chains  which 
now  enslave  them.  Let  them  give  up  those  bad 
habits  which  they  have  contracted.  Let  them  weaken 
the  flesh,  and  enter  upon  the  hard  work  of  subject- 
ing it  to  the  spirit.  Let  them,  above  all  things,  pray 
with  the  Church.  And  when  our  Lord  comes,  they 
may  hope  that  he  will  not  pass  them  by,  but  that  he 
will  enter  and  dwell  within  them :  for  he  spoke  of 
all  when  he  said  these  words :  Behold,  I  stand  at 
the  gate  and  knock:  if  any  man  shall  hear  my  voice 
and  open  to  me  the  door,  I  will  come  in  unto  him.2 

1  Phil.  iii.  13.  2  Apoc.  iii.  20. 


CHAPTER  THE  FOURTH. 

MORNING  AND   NIGHT  PRAYERS  FOR  ADVENT. 

During  Advent,  the  Christian,  on  waking  in  the 
morning,  will  unite  himself  with  the  Church,  who, 
in  her  Office  of  Matins,  says  to  us  these  solemn 
words,  which  choirs  of  religious  men  and  women, 
throughout  the  universe,  have  been  chanting  during 
the  deep  silence  of  the  night : — 

Come,  let    us    adore    the        Regem    venturum    Domi- 
King  our  Lord,  who   is   to    num,  venite,  adoremus. 
come ! 

He  will  profoundly  adore  this  great  King,  whose 
Coming  is  so  near  at  hand  :  and  with  this  idea  deeply 
impressed  upon  his  mind,  he  will  perform  the  first 
acts  of  religion,  both  interior  and  exterior,  where- 
with he  begins  the  day.  The  time  for  Morning 
Prayer  being  come,  he  may  use  the  following  me- 
thod, which  is  formed  upon  the  very  prayers  of  the 
Church : — 

MORNING  PRAYERS. 

First,  praise  and  adoration  of  the  Most  Holy 
Trinity  :— 

"ft.  Let  us  bless  the  Father,  $".  Benedicamus  Patrem,et 

and  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Filium,  cum  Sancto  Spiritu. 
Ghost. 

I£.  Let  us  praise  him  and  1^.  Laudemus  et  superex- 

extol  him  above  all  for  ever,  altemus  eum  in  ssecula. 

J.  Glory  be  to  the  Father,  $\  Gloria  Patri  et  Filio  et 

and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Spiritui  Sancto. 
Holy  Ghost. 

I£.  As  it  was  in  the  begin-  I£.  Sicut  erat  in  principio, 

ning,  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be,  et  nunc  et  semper,  et  in  sse- 

world  without  end.    Amen.  cula  steculorum.    Amen. 


46  ADVENT. 

Then,  praise  to  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus 
Christ  :— 

ft.  Adoranras  te,   Christe,  ft.  We  adore  thee,  0  Christ, 

et  benedicimus  tibi.  and  we  bless  thee. 

J$.  Quia  per  Crucem  tuam  1$.  Because  by  thy  Cross 

redemisti  mundum  thou  hast  redeemed  the  world. 

Thirdly,  invocation  of  the  Holy  Ghost : — 

Veni,  Sancte  Spiritus,  re-        Come,  O  Holy  Spirit,  fill 

pie  tuorum   corda  fidelium,  the  hearts   of    thy  faithful, 

et  tui  amoris  in  eis  ignem  and  enkindle  within    them 

accende.  the  fire  of  thy  love. 

After  these  fundamental  acts  of  religion,  you  will 
recite  the  Lord's  Prayer,  asking  of  God,  the  Father 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  grant  that  his  holy 
Name  may  be  glorified  on  earth  by  sending  his  Son, 
who  will  found  the  kingdom  of  God;  and  that  he 
will  vouchsafe  to  give  us  this  Saviour  who  is  our 
Bread,  and  who  will  obtain  for  us,  by  the  mediation 
so  long  looked  for,  the  forgiveness  of  our  sins ;  finally, 
that  he  will  deliver  us  from  sin,  which  is  the  sove- 
reign evil. 

THE   LORD'S    PEAYEK. 

Pater    noster,    qui    es    in        Our  Father,  who    art  in 

ccelis,    sanctificetur    nomen  heaven,     hallowed     be     thy 

tuum  :  adveniat  regnum  tu-  name :   thy    kingdom    come  : 

nm  :  fiat  voluntas  tua,  sicut  thy  will  be  done,  on  earth, 

in  ccelo,  et  in  terra.     Panem  as  it  is  in  heaven.     Give  us 

nostrum  quoticlianum  da  no-  this   day   our    daily  bread  ; 

bis  hodie  :  et  dimitte  nobis  and  forgive  us  our  trespasses, 

debita    nostra,  sicut  et   nos  as  we  forgive  them  that  tres- 

dimittimus  debitoribus  nos-  pass  against  us  :  and  lead  us 

tris  :   et  ne   nos  inducas  in  not  into  temptation  :  but  de- 

tentationem  :  sed  libera  nos  liver  us  from  evil.    Amen, 
a  malo.    Amen. 

Then  address  the  Angelical  Salutation  to  Mary, 
who  is,  in  these  days  which  precede  the  Nativity,  so 
truly  full  of  grace,  since  she  has  in  her  chaste  womb 
Him  who  is  the  author  of  all  grace.     The  Lord,  the 


MOKNING  PRAYERS. 


47 


fruit  of  her  womb,  is  with  her  ;  and  we  may  already 
give  her  the  sublime  and  unshared  title  of  Mother  of 
God 

THE  ANGELICAL  SALUTATION. 


Hail  Mary,  full  of  grace  ; 
the  Lord  is  with  thee  ;  bles- 
sed art  thou  among  women, 
and  blessed  is  the  fruit  of  thy 
womb,  Jesus. 

Holy  Mary,  Mother  of  God, 
pray  for  us  sinners,  now  and 
at  the  hour  of  our  death. 
Amen. 


Ave  Maria,  gratia  plena  : 
Dominus  tecum  :  benedicta 
tu  in  muheribus,  et  bene- 
dictus  fructus  ventris  tui, 
Jesus. 

Sancta  Maria,  Mater  Dei, 
ora  pro  nobis  peccatoribus, 
nunc  et  in  hora  mortis  nos- 
tras.    Amen. 


After  this,  recite  the  symbol  of  Faith  ;  and  as 
you  pronounce  the  words,  Who  was  conceived  by  the 
Holy  Ghost,  dwell  on  them  with  a  special  attention, 
adoring  the  Saviour,  who  is  as  yet  concealed  in  Mary's 
womb. 


THE   APOSTLES    CREED. 


I  believe  in  God  the  Father 
Almighty,  Creator  of  heaven 
and  earth.  And  in  Jesus 
Christ,  his  only  Son,  our  Lord, 
ivho  was  conceived  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  born  of  the  Virgin 
Mary  ;  suffered  under  Pon- 
tius Pilate,  was  crucified, 
dead,  and  buried ;  he  de- 
scended into  hell,  the  third 
day  he  rose  again  from  the 
dead  ;  he  ascended  into  hea- 
ven, sitteth  at  the  right  hand 
of  God  the  Father  Almighty ; 
from  thence  he  shall  come  to 
judge  the  living  and  the 
dead. 

I  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost : 
the  Holy  Catholic  Church  ; 
the  communion  of  Saints,  the 
forgiveness  of  sins,  the  resur- 
rection of  the  body,  and  life 
everlasting.     Amen. 


Credo  in  Deum,  Patrem 
omnipotentem,  creatorem 
cceli  et  terras.  Et  in  Jesum 
Christum  Filium  ejus  uni- 
cum  Dominum  nostrum : 
qui  conceptus  est  de  Spiritu 
Sancto,  natus  ex  Maria  Vir- 
gine,  passus  sub  Pontio  Pi- 
lato,  crucifixus,  mortuus,  et 
sepultus  :  descendit  ad  in- 
feros, tertia  die  resurrexit  a 
mortuis  :  ascendit  ad  coelos, 
sedet  ad  dexteram  Dei  Patris 
omnipotentis  :  inde  venturus 
est  j  udicare  vivos  et  mortuos. 


Credo  in  Spiritum  Sanc- 
tum, sanctam  Ecclesiam  Ca- 
tholicam.  Sanctorum  commu- 
nionem,  remissionem  pecca- 
torum,  carnis  resurrectionem, 
vitam  seternam.     Amen, 


48 


ADVENT. 


After  having  thus  made  the  Profession  of  your 
Faith,  excite  within  yourself  sentiments  of  penance, 
by  the  remembrance  of  the  sins  you  have  committed ; 
of  gratitude  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  who  is  coming  in 
order  to  save  us ;  and  of  fear  of  the  Last  Day.  For 
this  end,  say  with  the  Church  the  following  hymn, 
taken  from  the  Office  of  Lauds  for  Advent. 


HYMN. 


En  clara  vox  redarguit, 
Obscura  quaeque  personalis  ; 
Procul  fugentur  somnia  : 
Ab  alto  Jesus  promicat. 


Mens  jam  resurgat  torpida, 
ISTon  amplius  jacens  humi  : 
Sidus  reiulget  jam  novum, 
Ut  tollat  omne  noxium. 

En  Agnus  ad  nos  mittitur 
Laxare  gratis  debitum  : 
Omnes  simul  cum  lacrymis, 
Precemur  indulgentiam. 

Ut  cum  secundo  fulserit 
Metuque  mundum  cinxerit, 
Non  pro  reatu  puniat, 
Sed  nos  pius  tunc  protegat. 

Virtus,  honor,  laus,  gloria, 
Deo  Patri  cum  Filio, 
Sancto  simul  Paraclito, 
In  sseculorum  sascula. 

Amen. 


The  solemn  voice  of  the 
Precursor  is  heard,  explain- 
ing the  obscurity  of  the 
ancient  figures  ;  let  our  slum- 
bers cease  ;  Jesus  is  rising  on 
our  horizon. 

f  Let  the  sluggish  soul  now 
rise,  and  stay  no  more  upon 
this  earth  ;  a  new  star  is 
shining,  which  will  take  all 
sin  away. 

Lo  !  the  Lamb  is  sent  to 
forgive  us  freely  our  debt : 
let  us  unite  in  tears  and 
prayers,  that  we  may  obtain 
pardon. 

That  when  he  comes  the 
second  time,  filling  the  world 
with  fear,  he  may  not  have 
to  punish  us  for  our  sins,  but 
may  protect  us  in  mercy. 

Power,  honour,  praise,  and 
glory,  be  to  the  Father,  and 
to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy 
Paraclete,  for  ever  and  ever. 
Amen. 


Here  make  an  humble  confession  of  your  sins, 
reciting  the  general  formula  made  use  of  by  the 
Church. 

THE   CONFESSION   OF   SINS. 

Confiteor  Deo  omnipotent,  I  confess  to  Almighty  God, 
beatse  Marise  semper  Vir-  to  blessed  Mary  ever  Virgin, 
gini,   beato  Michaeli   Arch-    to  blessed  Michael  the  Arch- 


MORNING  PRAYERS. 


49 


angel,  to  Blessed  John  Bap- 
tist, to  the  holy  Apostles 
Peter  and  Paul,  and  to  all 
the  saints,  that  I  have  sinned 
exceedingly  in  thought,  word, 
and  deed  :  through  my  fault, 
through  my  fault,  through 
my  most  grievous  fault. 
Therefore  I  beseech  the 
Blessed  Mary  ever  Virgin, 
blessed  Michael  the  Arch- 
angel, blessed  John  Baptist, 
the  holy  Apostles  Peter  and 
Paul,  and  all  the  saints,  to 
pray  to  our  Lord  God  for 
me. 

May  Almighty  God  have 
mercy  on  us,  and,  our  sins 
being  forgiven,  bring  us  to 
life  everlasting.     Amen. 

May  the  Almighty  and 
merciful  Lord  grant  us  par- 
don, absolution,  and  remis- 
sion of  our  sins. 


angelo,  beato  Joanni  Bap- 
tists, Sanctis  Apostolis  Petro 
et  Paulo,  et  omnibus  Sanctis, 
quia  peccavi  nimis  cogita- 
tione,  verbo,  et  opere :  mea 
culpa,  mea  culpa,  mea  max- 
ima culpa.  Ideo  precor 
beatam  Mariam  semper  Yir- 
ginem,  beatum  Michaelem 
Archangelum,  beatum  Joan- 
nem  Baptistam,  sanctos  Apos- 
tolos  Petrum  et  Paulum,  et 
omnes  sanctos,  orare  pro  me 
ad  Dominum  Deum  nostrum. 


Misereatur  nostri  omnipo- 
tens  Deus,  et  dimissis  pec- 
catis  nostris,  perducat  nos  ad 
vitam  seternam.    Amen. 

Indulgentiam,  absolutio- 
nem,  et  remissionem  pecca- 
torum  nostrorum  tribuat 
nobis  omnipotens  et  miseri- 
cors  Dominus.    Amen. 


This  is  the  proper  place  for  making  your  Medita- 
tion, as  no  doubt  you  practise  this  holy  exercise. 
During  Advent,  its  principal  object  ought  to  be  the 
removing  from  ourselves  those  hindrances,  which 
would  oppose  Jesus'  coming  and  reigning  within  us. 
The  love  of  sensual  pleasures,  avarice,  and  pride,  that 
triple  concupiscence  which  St.  John  so  strongly  con- 
demns in  his  first  Epistle,  must  be  withstood,  else 
our  preparation  for  Christmas  is  useless.  And  as 
the  chief  thing  in  every  Prayer  or  Meditation,  is  to 
turn  our  thoughts  to  Jesus  Christ,  we  must,  during 
Advent,  contemplate  him  in  the  womb  of  Mary, 
where  he  remains  hidden,  giving  us,  by  this  his  state 
of  abasement,  a  most  telling  lesson  of  devotedness  to 
his  Father's  glory,  of  obedience  to  the  divine  decrees, 
and  of  humility ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  he  gives  us 
a  most  powerful  proof  of  the  greatness  of  his  love  of  us. 


50  ADVENT. 

This  thought  will  naturally  suggest  to  us  a  variety 
of  motives  and  resolutions  for  breaking  those  ties 
which  keep  us  from  a  virtuous  life.  But  should  they 
not  produce  sufficient  impression  on  us,  we  must  then 
consider  Jesus  as  oar  Judge,  in  the  dread  magnifi- 
cence of  his  majesty,  and  all  the  severity  of  his  in- 
evitable vengeance. 

The  next  part  of  your  Morning  Prayer  must  be  to 
ask  of  God,  by  the  following  prayers,  grace  to  avoid 
every  kind  of  sin  during  the  day  you  are  just  begin- 
ning. Say,  then,  with  the  Church,  whose  prayers 
must  always  be  preferred  to  all  others : 

$".  Domine,  exaudi  ora-  $\  0  Lord,  hear  my  prayer, 
tionem  meam. 

~f$.  Et  clamor  meus  ad  te  I£.  And  let  my  cry  come 

veniat.  unto  thee. 

OREMXJS.  LET   US  PRAY. 

Domine,  Deus  omnipotens,  Almighty  Lord  and  God, 

qui  ad  principium  hujus  diei  who  hast  brought  us  to  the 

nos  pervenire  f  ecisti,  tua  nos  beginning  of  this  day,  let  thy 

hodie  salva  virtute,  ut  in  hac  powerful  grace  so  conduct  us 

die    ad   nullum  declinemus  through  it,  that  we  may  not 

peccatum,    sed    semper    ad  fall  into  any  sin,  but  that  all 

tuam    justitiam    faciendam  our    thoughts,    words,    and 

nostra  procedant  eloquia,  di-  actions    may    be    regulated 

riganturcogitationeset  opera,  according  to  the  rules  of  thy 

Per  Dominum  nostrum  Je-  heavenly  justice,  and  tend  to 

sum  Christum  Filium  tuum,  the  observance  of  thy  holy 

qui  tecum  vivit  et  regnat  in  law.     Through  Jesus  Christ 

unitate  Spiritus  Sancti  Deus,  our  Lord.    Amen, 
per  omnia  saecula  saeculoruni. 
Amen. 

Then,  beg  the  divine  assistance  for  the  actions  of 
the  day,  that  you  may  do  them  well ;  and  say  thrice  : 

"ft.  Deus,    in    adjutorium  $".  Incline  unto  my  aid,  O 

meum  intende.  God. 

3$.  Domine,  ad    adjuvan-  I£.  0  Lord,  make  haste  to 

dum  me  festina.  help  me. 

$.  Deus,    in    adjutorium  $".  Incline  unto  my  aid,  0 

meum  intende.  God. 


MORNING  PRAYERS. 


51 


]$.  O  Lord,  make  haste  to 
help  me. 

W.  Incline  unto  my  aid,  O 
God. 

1$.  O  Lord,  make  haste  to 
help  me. 

LET  US  PRAY. 

Lord  God,  and  King  of 
heaven  and  earth,  vouchsafe 
this  day  to  rule  and  sanctify, 
to  direct  and  govern  our  souls 
and  bodies,  our  senses,  words, 
and  actions  in  conformity  to 
thy  law,  and  strict  obedience 
to  thy  commands  ;  that  by 
the  help  of  thy  grace,  O  Sa- 
viour of  the  world  !  we  may 
be  fenced  and  freed  from  all 
evils.  Who  livest  and  reign- 
est  for  ever  and  ever. 

]$.  Amen. 


1$.  Domine,  ad  adjuvan- 
dum  me  festina. 

y.  Deus,  in  adjutorium 
meum  intende. 

1$.  Domine,  ad  adjuvan- 
dum  me  festina. 

OREMUS. 

Dirigere  et  sanctificare,  re- 
gere  et  gubernare  dignare, 
Domine  Deus,  Rex  cceli  et 
terrse,  hodie  corda  et  corpora 
nostra,  sensus,  sermones  et 
actus  nostros  in  lege  tua,  et 
in  operibus  mandatorum  tuo- 
rum,  ut  hie  et  in  seternum,  te 
auxiliante,  salvi  et  liberi  esse 
mereamur,  Salvator  mundL 
Qui  vivis  et  regnas  in  ssecula 
saeculoruin. 

1$.  Amen. 


After  this,  uniting  yourself  with  the  Church,  which, 
both  in  the  Divine  Office,  and  during  the  Holy  Sa- 
crifice, prays  for  the  coming  of  Jesus  Christ,  say : 

ft.  Veni  ad  liberandum 
nos,  Domine  Deus  virtutum. 

I£.  Ostende  faciem  tuam, 
et  salvi  erimus. 

ft.  Ostende  nobis,  Domine, 
misericordiam  tuam. 

1$.  Et  salutare  tuum  da 
nobis. 

ft.  Super  te,  Jerusalem, 
orietur  Dominus. 

1$.  Et  gloria  ejus  in  te  vi- 
debitur. 

OREMUS. 

Week) 

Excita,  qusesumus,  Do- 
mine, potentiam  tuam  et 
veni ;  ut  ab  imminentibus 
peccatorum  nostrorum  peri- 
culis,  te  mereamur  protegente 


ft.  0  Lord  God  of  hosts, 
come  and  deliver  us. 

Ij&.  Show  thy  face,  and  we 
shall  be  saved. 

ft.  Show  us,  O  Lord,  thy 
mercy. 

1£.  And  grant  us  the  Saviour, 
whom  we  expect  from  thee. 

ft.  TheLordshallriseupon 
thee,  O  Jerusalem ! 

I£.  And  his  glory  shall  be 
seen  upon  thee. 

LET  US  PRAY. 

(First 

Exert,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Lord,  thy  power  and  come  ; 
that  by  thy  protection  we 
may  be  freed  from  the  immi- 
nent dangers  of  our  sins,  and 


52 


ADVENT. 


eripi,   te   liberante,    salvari. 
Qui  vivis  et  regnas  Deus,  per 
omnia    saecula    saeculorum. 
J$.  Amen. 

(Second 
Excita,  Domine,  corda  nos- 
tra ad  praeparandas  Unigeniti 
tui  vias  ;  ut  per  ejus  adven- 
tum  puriiicatis  tibi  mentibus 
serviremereamur.  Qui  tecum 
vivit  et  regnat  in  saecula 
saeculorum. 
^.  Amen. 

(Third 
Aurem  tuam,  quaesumus, 
Domine,  precibus  nostris  ac- 
commoda  :  et  mentis  nostras 
tenebras  gratia  tuse  visita- 
tionis  illustra.  Qui  vivis  et 
regnas  Deus,  per  omnia  sae- 
cula saeculorum. 
I£.  Amen. 

(Fourth 
Excita,  quaesumus,  Do- 
mine, potentiam  tuam  et 
veni,  et  magna  nobis  virtute 
succurre  :  ut,  per  auxilium 
gratiae  tuse  quod  nostra  pec- 
cata  praepediunt,  indulgentia 
tuse  propitiationis  acceleret. 
Qui  vivis  et  regnas  Deus,  per 
omnia  saecula  saeculorum. 
3$,  Amen. 


be  saved  by  thy  mercy  ;  who 
livest  and  reignest  God,  world 
without  end. 
"  1$.  Amen. 

Week) 

Stir  up,  O  Lord,  our  hearts 
to  prepare  the  ways  of  thy 
Only  Begotten  Son  ;  that  by 
his  coming,  we  may  be  en- 
abled to  serve  thee  with  pure 
minds  ;  who  livest  and  reign- 
est God,  world  without  end. 

1$,  Amen. 
Week) 

Bend  thine  ear,  O  Lord,  we 
beseech  thee,  to  our  prayers, 
and  enlighten  the  darkness  of 
our  minds  by  the  grace  of  thy 
visitation  ;  who  livest  and 
reignest  God,  world  without 
end. 

I£.  Amen. 

Week) 

Exert,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Lord,  thy  power  and  come  ; 
and  succour  us  by  thy  great 
might ;  that  by  the  assistance  - 
of  thy  grace,  thy  indulgent 
mercy  may  hasten  what  is 
delayed  by  our  sins; 'who 
livest  and  reignest  God,  world 
without  end. 

1$.  Amen. 


It  would  be  well  to  add  the  special  Prayer,  which 
the  Church  says,  during  Advent,  in  honour  of  the 
Blessed  Mother  of  God. 


OREMUS. 

m  Deus,  qui  de  beatae  Ma- 
riae  Virginis  utero,  Verbum 
tuum,  Angelo  nuntiante,  car- 
nem  suscipere  voluisti :  prae- 
sta  supplicibus  tuis,  ut  qui 
vere  earn  Genitricem  Dei  cre- 
dimus,  ejus  apud  te  inter- 


LET  US  PEAY. 

O  God,  who  wast  pleased 
that  thy  Word,  when  the 
Angel  delivered  his  message, 
should  take  flesh  in  the  womb 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  ; 
give  ear  to  our  humble  peti- 
tions, and  grant  that  we  who 


NIGHT  PRATERS.  53 

believe  her  to  be  truly  the  cessionibus  adjuvemur.    Per 

Mother  of  God,  may  be  help-  eumdem  Christum  Dominum 

ed  by  her  prayers.     Through  nostrum, 
the  same  Christ  our  Lord. 

1$.  Amen.  ]$.  Amen. 

During  the  day,  you  may  use  the  instructions  and 
prayers  which  you  will  find  in  this  volume  for  each 
day  of  .Advent,  both  for  the  Proper  of  the  Time,  and 
the  Proper  of  the  Saints.  In  the  evening,  you  may 
use  the  following  prayers. 


NIGHT  PRATERS, 

After  having  made  the  sign  of  the  Cross,  adore  the 
Divine  Majesty,  who  has  so  mercifully  preserved  you 
during  this  day,  and  so  plentifully  bestowed  upon  you, 
every  hour,  his  grace  and  protection.  Begin  by  re- 
citing the  hymn  which  the  Church  sings  at  Vespers 
during  Advent 

HYMN, 

O  Jesus,  thou  kind  Creator        Creator  alme  siderum, 

of  the  heavens,  eternal  Light  yEterna  lux  credentium, 

of  believers,  and  Redeemer  of  Jesu,  Redemptor  omnium, 

all  mankind,  hear  the  prayers  Intende  votis  supplicum. 
of  thy  suppliants. 

Lest    the    world    should        Qui  daemonis  ne  fraudibus 

perish  by  the  fraud  of  the  Periret  orbis,  impetu 

devil,  thou,  impelled  by  the  Amoris  actus,  languidi 

vehemence  of  thy  love  for  us,  Mundi  medela  f actus  es. 
didst  thyself  become  the  re- 
medy of  all  our  weakness. 

To  expiate  the  sin  of  the        Commune  qui  mundi  nefas 

whole  world,  thou  didst  come  Ut  expiares,  ad  crucem, 

from  the  sanctuary  of   the  E  Virginis  sacrario 

Virgin's  womb,  a  victim  des-  Intacta  prodis  victima. 
tined  to  the  cross. 

How  glorious  is  thy  power,        Cujus  potestas  gloriae 

when,  at  the  very  sound  of  Nomenque    quum    primum 
thy  Name,  heaven  and  hell  sonat, 

bend  their  trembling  knee  !  Et  ccelites  et  inferi 

Tremente  curvantur  genu. 


54j  advent. 

Te  deprecamur,  ultimse  We    beseech    thee,    dread 

Magnum  diei  judicem,  Judge  of  the  last  day,  defend 

Armis  supernse  gratise  us  from  our  enemies  by  the 

Def  ende  nos  ab  hostibus.  armour  of  thy  heavenly  grace. 

Virtus,  honor,  laus,  gloria,        Power,  honour,  praise,  and 

Deo  Patri  cum  Filio,  glory,  be  to  the  Father,  and 

Sancto  simul  Paraclito,  to  the  Son,  and  to  the  holy 

In  sseculorum  saecula.  Paraclete,  for  ever  and  ever. 

Amen.  Amen. 

After  this  Hymn,  say  the  Our  Father,  the  Hail 
Mary,  and  the  Apostles'  Greed,  as  in  the  Morning. 

Then  make  the  Examination  of  Conscience,  going 
over  in  your  mind  all  the  faults  you  may  have  com- 
mitted during  the  day ;  think  how  unworthy  sin 
makes  us  of  the  merciful  visit  of  our  Saviour,  and 
make  a  firm  resolution  to  avoid  sin  for  the  future,  to 
do  penance  for  it,  and  to  avoid  the  occasions  which 
might  lead  you  into  it. 

The  Examination  of  Conscience  concluded,  recite 
the  Confiteor  (or  I  confess)  with  heartfelt  contrition, 
and  then  give  expression  to  your  sorrow  by  the  fol- 
lowing Act,  which  we  have  taken  from  the  Venerable 
Cardinal  Bellarmine's  Catechism : 

ACT   OF   CONTRITION. 

O  my  God,  I  am  exceedingly  grieved  for  having  offended 
thee,  and  with  my  whole  heart  1  repent  for  the  sins  I  have 
committed  :  I  hate  and  abhor  them  above  every  other  evil, 
not  only  because,  by  so  sinning,  I  have  lost  Heaven  and 
deserved  Hell,  but  still  more  because  I  have  offended  thee, 
O  Infinite  Goodness,  who  art  worthy  to  be  loved  above  all 
things.  I  most  firmly  resolve,  by  the  assistance  of  thy  grace, 
never  more  to  offend  thee  for  the  time  to  come,  and  to  avoid 
those  occasions  which  might  lead  me  into  sin. 

You  may  then  add  the  Acts  of  Faith,  Hope,  and 
Charity,  to  the  recitation  of  which  Pope  Benedict 
XIV.  has  granted  an  indulgence  of  seven  years  and 
seven  quarantines  for  each  time. 

ACT   OF  FAITH. 

O  my  God,  I  firmly  believe  whatsoever  the  Holy  Catholic 
Apostolic  Roman  Church  requires  me  to  believe  :  I  believe 


NIGHT  PRAYERS. 


55 


it,  because  thou  hast  revealed  it  to  her,  thou  who  art  the  very- 
Truth. 

ACT  OF   HOPE. 

O  my  God,  knowing  thy  almighty  power,  and  thy  infinite 
goodness  and  mercy,!  hope  in  thee  that,  by  the  merits  of 
the  Passion  and  Death  of  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  thou  wilt 
grant  me  eternal  life,  which  thou  hast  promised  to  all  such 
as  shall  do  the  works  of  a  good  Christian ;  and  these  I  resolve 
to  do  with  the  help  of  thy  grace. 

ACT   OF   CHARITY. 

0  my  God,  I  love  thee  with  my  whole  heart  and  above  all 
things,  because  thou  art  the  Sovereign  Good  :  I  would  rather 
lose  all  things  than  offend  thee.  For  thy  love  also,  I  love 
and  desire  to  love  my  neighbour  as  myself. 

Then  say  to  our  Blessed  Lady,  in  honour  of  the 
ineffable  dignity  of  her  Maternity,  the  following 
Anthem : 

ANTHEM  TO  THE  BLESSED  VIRGIN. 

Sweet  Mother  of  our  Re- 
deemer^  Gate  whereby  we 
enter  heaven,  and  Star  of  the 
sea  !  help  us,  we  fall ;  yet  do 
we  long  to  rise.  Nature 
looked  upon  thee  with  admi- 
ration, when  thou  didst  give 
birth  to  thy  divine  Creator, 
thyself  remaining,  before  and 
after  it,  a  pure  Virgin.  Ga- 
briel spoke  his  Rail  to  thee  ; 
we  sinners  crave  thy  pity. 

f.  The  Angel  of  the  Lord 
declared  unto  Mary. 

IjL  And  she  conceived  of 
the  Holy  Ghost. 

LET  US  PRAY. 

Pour  forth,  we  beseech 
thee,  O  Lord,  thy  grace  into 
our  hearts  ;  that  we  to  whom 
the  Incarnation  of  Christ  thy 
Son  was  made  known  by  the 
message  of  an  Angel,  may  by 
his    Passion   and    Cross  be 


Alma    Redemptoris    mater, 

quae  pervia  cceli 
Porta  manes,  et  stella  maris, 

succurre  cadenti, 
Surgere  qui  curat  populo :  tu 

quae  genuisti, 
Natura  mirante,  tuum  sanc- 
tum Genitorem, 
Virgo  prius  ac  posterius,  Ga- 

brielis  ab  ore, 
Sumens  illud  Ave,  peccato- 

rum  miserere. 

y.  Angelus  Domini  nun- 
tiavit  Marise. 

]$.  Et  concepit  de  Spiritu 
Sancto. 

OREMUS. 

Gratiam  tuam,  qusesumus, 
Domine,  mentibus  nostris  in- 
f  unde,  ut  qui,  Angelo  nunti- 
ante,  ChristiFilii  tui  Incarna- 
tionem  cognovimus,  per  Pas- 
sionem  ejus  et  Crucem  ad 
Resurrectionis  gloriam  perdu- 


m 


ADVENT. 


camur.    Per  eumdem  Chris-    brought  to  the  glory  of  his 
turn  Dominum  nostrum.  Resurrection.     Through  the 

same  Christ  our  Lord. 
3$.  Amen.  I£.  Amen. 

Yoti  would  do  well  to  add  the  Litany  of  our  Lady. 
An  indulgence  of  three  hundred  days,  for  each  time 
it  is  recited,  has  been  granted  by  the  Church. 

THE  LITANY  OF  THE  BLESSED  VIRGIN. 


Kyrie,  eleison. 

Christe,  eleison. 

Kyrie,  eleison. 

Christe,  audi  nos. 

Christe,  exaudi  nos. 

Pater  de  ecelis,  Deus,  mise- 
rere nobis. 

Fili,  Redemptor  mundi  Deus, 
miserere  nobis. 

Spiritus  Sancte,  Deus,  mise- 
rere nobis. 

Sancta  Trinitas,  unus  Deus, 
miserere  nobis. 

Sancta  Maria,  ora  pro  nobis. 

Sancta  Dei  Genitrix,  ora,  etc. 

Sancta  Virgo  virginum, 
Mater  Christi, 
Mater  divinse  gratia?, 
Mater  purissima, 
Mater  eastissima, 
Mater  inviolata, 
Mater  intemerata, 
Mater  amabilis, 
Mater  admirabilis, 
Mater  Creatoris, 
Mater  Salvatoris, 
Virgo  prudentissima, 
Virgo  veneranda, 
Virgo  praedicanda, 
Virgo  potens, 
Virgo  clemens, 
Virgo  fidelis, 
Speculum  justitise, 
Sedes  sapientias, 


Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 
Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 
Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 
Christ,  hear  us. 
Christ,  graciously  hear  us. 
God  the  Father  of  heaven, 

have  mercy  on  us. 
God  the  Son,  Redeemer  of 

the  world,  have  mercy  on 

us. 
God  the  Holy  Ghost,  have 

mercy  on  us. 
Holy  Trinity,  one  God,  have 

mercy  on  us. 
Holy  Mary,  pray  for  us. 
Holy  Mother  of  God,  pray, 

etc. 
Holy  virgin  of  virgins, 
Mother  of  Christ, 
Mother  of  divine  grace, 
Mother  most  pure, 
Mother  most  chaste, 
Mother  inviolate, 
Mother  undefiled, 
Mother  most  amiable, 
Mother  most  admirable, 
Mother  of  our  Creator, 
Mother  of  our  Redeemer, 
Virgin  most  prudent, 
Virgin  most  venerable, 
Virgin  most  renowned, 
Virgin  most  powerful, 
Virgin  most  merciful, 
Virgin  most  faithful, 
Mirror  of  justice, 
Seat  of  Wisdom, 


NIGHT  PRAYERS. 


57 


Cause  of  our  joy, 

Spiritual  vessel, 

Vessel  of  honour, 

Vessel  of  singular  devotion, 

Mystical  Rose, 

Tower  of  David, 

Tower  of  ivory, 

House  of  gold, 

Ark  of  the  covenant, 

Gate  of  heaven, 

Morning  Star, 

Health  of  the  weak, 

Refuge  of  sinners, 

Comforter  of  the  afflicted, 

Help  of  Christians, 

Queen  of  Angels, 

Queen  of  Patriarchs, 

Queen  of  Prophets, 

Queen  of  Apostles, 

Queen  of  Martyrs, 

Queen  of  Confessors, 

Queen  of  Virgins, 

Queen  of  all  Saints, 

Queen  conceived  without  ori- 
ginal sin. 

O  Lamb  of  God,  who  takest 
away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
spare  us,  O  Lord. 

O  Lamb  of  God,  who  takest 
away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
graciously  hear  us,  0  Lord. 

O  Lamb  of  God,  who  takest 
away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  hear  us. 

Christ,  graciously  hear  us. 
$.  Pray  for    us,   0    holy 

Mother  of  God. 
1$.  That  we  may  be  made 

worthy  of  the  promises  of 

Christ 

LET  US  PRAY. 

Grant,  O  Lord,  we  beseech 
thee,  that  we  thy  servants 
may  enjoy  constant  health  of 
body  and  mind,  and  by  the 


Causa  nostra?  laetitiae, 
Vas  spirituale, 
Vas  honorabile, 
Vas  insigne  devotionis, 
Rosa  mystica, 
Turris  Davidica, 
Turris  eburnea, 
Domus  aurea, 
Foederis  area, 
Janua  cceli, 
Stella  matutina, 
Salus  infirmorum, 
Refugium  peccatorum, 
Consolatrix  afflictorum, 
Auxilium  Christianorum, 
Regina  Angelorum, 
Regina  Patriarcharum, 
Regina  Prophetarum, 
Regina  Apostolorum, 
Regina  Martyrum, 
Regina  Confessorum, 
Regina  Virginum, 
Regina  Sanctorum  omnium, 
Regina  sine  labe  concepta. 

Agnus  Dei,  qui  tollis  pec- 
cata  mundi,  parce  nobis, 
Domine. 

Agnus  Dei,  qui  tollis  pec- 
cata  mundi,  exaudi  nos, 
Domine. 

Agnus  Dei,  qui  tollis  pec- 
cata  mundi,  miserere  no- 
bis. 

Christe,  audi  nos. 

Christe,  exaudi  nos. 

$".  Ora  pro  nobis,  sancta 

Dei  Genitrix. 
1$.  Ut  digni  efficiamur  pro- 

missionibus  Christi. 


OREMTTS. 

Concede  nos  famulos  tuos, 
quaesumus,  Domine  Deus, 
perpetua  mentis  et  corporis 
sanitate  gaudere :  et  gloriosa 


58 


ADVENT. 


beataa  Marise  semper  Vir-  glorious  intercession  of  Bles- 
ginis  intercessione,  a  praesenti  sed  Mary,  ever  a  Virgin,  be 
hberari  tristitia,  et  aeterna  delivered  from  all  present 
perfrui  laetitia.  Per  Christum  affliction,  and  come  to  that 
Dominum  nostrum.    Amen,     joy  which  is  eternal.  Through 

Christ  our  Lord.    Amen. 

Here  invoke  the  Holy  Angels,  whose  protection  is, 
indeed,  always  so  much  needed  by  us,  but  never  so 
much  as  during  the  hours  of  night.  Say  with  the 
Church : 


Sancti  Angeli,  custodesnos- 
tri,  defendite  nos  in  praelio, 
ut  non  pereamus  in  tremendo 
judicio. 

'ff.  Angelis  suis  Deus  man- 
davit  de  te. 

1$.  Ut  custodiant  te  in  om- 
nibus viis  tuis. 

OREMUS. 

Deus,  qui  ineffabili  provi- 
dentia  sanctos  Angelos  tuos 
ad  nostram  custodiam  mit- 
tere  dignaris  :  largire  suppli- 
cibus  tuis,  jet  eorum  semper 
protectione  defendi,  etaeterna 
societate  gaudere.  Per  Chris- 
tum Dominum  nostrum. 
Amen. 


Holy  Angels,  our  loving 
Guardians,  defend  us  in  the 
hour  of  battle,  that  we  may 
not  be  lost  at  the  dreadful 
judgment. 

J.  God  hath  given  his 
Angels  charge  of  thee. 

%\  That  they  may  guard 
thee  in  all  thy  ways. 

LET  US  PRAY. 

O  God,  who  in  thy  wonder- 
ful providence  hast  been 
pleased  to  appoint  thy  holy 
Angels  for  our  guardians : 
mercifully  hear  our  prayer, 
and  grant  we  may  rest  se- 
cure under  their  protection, 
and  enjoy  their  fellowship  in 
heaven  for  ever.  Through 
Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 


Then  beg  the  assistance  of  the  Saints  by  the  fol- 
lowing Antiphon  and  Prayer  of  the  Church  : 


Ant.  Ecce  Dominus  ve- 
niet,  et  omnes  Sancti  ejus 
cum  eo  :  et  erit  in  die  ilia  lux 
magna.    Alleluia. 

y.  Ecce  apparebit  Domi- 
nus super  nubem  candidam. 

I£.  Et  cum  eo  Sanctorum 
millia. 


Ant.  Behold,  the  Lord 
will  come,  and  with  him  all 
his  Saints  ;  and  on  that  day 
there  shall  be  a  great  light. 
Alleluia. 

$\  Behold,  the  Lord  shall 
appear  upon  a  white  cloud. 

%.  And  with  him  thou- 
sands of  Saints. 


NIGHT  PRAYERS. 


59 


LET  US  PRAY. 

Visit,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Lord,  and  purify  our  hearts 
by  thy  grace  :  that  when  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  thy  Son 
shall  come,  together  with  all 
his  Saints,  he  may  find  us 
ready  to  give  him  a  place 
within  us :  who  liveth  and 
reigneth  with  thee  for  ever 
and  ever.    Amen. 


OREMTTS. 

Conscietitias  nostras,  quag- 
sumus,  Domine,  visitando 
purifica :  ut  veniens  Jesus 
Christus  Filius  tuus  Domi- 
nus  noster,  cum  omnibus 
Sanctis  suis,  paratam  sibi  in 
nobis  inveniat  mansionem. 
Qui  tecum  vivit,  <kc. 


And  here  you  may  add  a  special  mention  of  the 
Saints  to  whom  you  bear  a  particular  devotion,  either 
as  your  Patrons  or  otherwise ;  as  also  of  those  whose 
feast  is  kept  in  the  Church  that  day,  or  at  least  who 
have  been  commemorated  in  the  Divine  Office. 

This  done,  remember  the  necessities  of  the  Church 
Suffering,  and  beg  of  God  that  he  will  give  to  the 
souls  in  Purgatory  a  place  of  refreshment,  light,  and 
peace.     For  this  intention  recite  the  usual  prayers. 

PSALM  129. 


From  the  depths  I  have 
cried  to  thee,  O  Lord  ;  Lord, 
hear  my  voice. 

Let  thine  ears  be  attentive 
to  the  voice  of  my  supplica- 
tion. 

If  thou  wilt  observe  ini- 
quities, O  Lord,  Lord,  who 
shall  endure  it  % 
_  For  with  thee  there  is  mer- 
ciful forgiveness ;  and  by 
reason  of  thy  law  I  have 
waited  for  thee,  O  Lord. 

My  soul  hath  relied  on  his 
word  ;  my  soul  hath  hoped 
in  the  Lord. 

From  the  morning  watch 
even  until  night,  let  Israel 
hope  in  the  Lord. 

Because   with    the    Lord 


De  profundis  clamavi  ad 
te,  Domine  :  Domine,  exaudi 
vocem  meam. 

Fiant  aures  tuse  intenden- 
tes  :  in  vocem  deprecationis 
mese. 

Si  iniquitates  observave- 
ris,  Domine  :  Domine,  quis 
sustinebit  % 

Quia  apud  te  propitiatio 
est :  et  propter  legem  tuam 
sustinui  te,  Domine. 

Sustinuit  anima  mea  in 
verbo  ejus  :  speravit  anima 
mea  in  Domino. 

A  custodia  matutina  usque 
ad  noctem :  speret  Israel  in 
Domino. 

Quia  apud  Dominum  mise- 


60 


ADVENT. 


ricordia :  et  copiosa  apud 
eum  redemptio. 

Et  ipse  redimet  Israel  :  ex 
omnibus  iniquitatibus  ejus. 

Requiem  seternam  dona 
eis,  Domine. 

Et  lux  perpetua  luceat  eis. 

ft.  A  porta  inferi. 

I£.  Erue,  Domine,  animas 
eorum. 

ft.  Requieseant  in  pace. 

I£.  Amen. 

ft.  Domine,  exaudi  ora- 
tionem  meam. 

]$.  Et  clamor  meus  ad  te 
veniat. 

OREMUS. 

Fidelium  Deus  omnium 
Conditor  et  Redemptor,  ani- 
mabus  famulorum  famula- 
rumque  tuarum,  remission  em 
cunctorum  tribue  peccato- 
rum :  ut  indulgentiam,  quam 
semper  optaverunt,  piis  sup- 
plicationibus  consequantur. 
Qui  vivis  et  regnas  in  ssecula 
sseculorum.     Amen. 


there  is  mercy,  and  with  him 
plentiful  redemption. 

And  he  shall  redeem  Israel 
from  all  his  iniquities. 

Eternal  rest  give  to  them, 
O  Lord. 

And  let  perpetual  light 
shine  upon  them. 

ft.  From  the  gate  of  hell. 

I£.  Deliver  their  souls,  O 
Lord. 

ft.  May  they  rest  in  peace. 

1$.  Amen. 

ft.  0  Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

3$.  And  let  my  cry  come 
unto  thee. 

LET  US  PRAY. 

O  God,  the  Creator  and 
Redeemer  of  all  the  Faithful, 
give  to  the  souls  of  thy  ser- 
vants departed  the  remission 
of  their  sins:  that  through  the 
help  of  pious  supplications, 
they  may  obtain  the  pardon 
they  have  always  desired. 
Who  livest  and  reignest  for 
ever  and  ever.     Amen. 


Here  make  a  special  memento  of  such  of  the 
Faithful  departed  as  have  a  particular  claim  upon 
your  charity;  after  which,  ask  of  God  to  give  you  his 
assistance, whereby  you  may  pass  the  night  free  from 
danger.  Say,  then,  still  keeping  to  the  words  of  the 
Church  : 


Ant.  Salva  nos,  Domine, 
vigilantes,  custodi  nos  dor- 
mientes  :  ut  vigilemus  cum 
Christo,  et  requiescamus  in 
pace. 

ft.  Dignare,  Domine,  nocte 
ista. 

1$.  Sine  peccato  nos  cus- 
todire. 


Ant.  Save  us,  O  Lord, 
whilst  awake,  and  watch  us 
as  we  sleep  ;  that  we  may 
watch  with  Christ,  and  rest 
in  peace. 

ft.  Vouchsafe,  O  Lord,  this 
night. 

1$.  To  keep  us  without  sin. 


NIGHT  PKAYERS. 


61 


Jt.  Miseiere  nostri,  Do 
mine. 

1$.  Miserere  nostri. 

p-  .Fiat  misericordia  tua, 
Domine,  super  nos. 

1$.  Quemadmodum  spera"j 
vimus  in  te. 

^.  Domine,  exaudi  ora- 
tionem  meam. 

I£.  Et  clamor  mens  ad  te 
veniat. 

OREMUS. 

Visita,qua3sumus,  Domine, 
habitationem  istam,  et  omnes 
insidias  inimici  ab  ea  longe 
repelle :  Angeli  tui  sancti 
habitent  in  ea,  qui  nos  in 
pace  custodiant,  et  benedictio 
tua  sit  super  nos  semper.  Per 
Dominum  nostrum  Jesum 
Christum,  Filiuin  tuum,  qui 
tecum  vivit  et  regnat  in  uni- 
tate  Spiritus  Sancti  Deus, 
per  omnia  ssecula  sseculo- 
rum.     Amen. 

And  tbat  you  may  end  the  day  in  the  same  senti- 
ments with  which  you  began  it,  repeat  your  prayer 
for  the  comingf  of  the  Saviour: 


$".  Have  mercy  on  us,  O 
Lord. 

Have  mercy  on  us. 
r.  Let  thy  mercy,  O  Lord, 
be  upon  us. 

I£.  As  we  have  hoped  in 
thee. 

$f.  0  Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

1$.  And  let  my  cry  come 
unto  thee. 

[let  us  peay. 

Visit,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Lord,  this  house  and  family, 
and  drive  from  it  all  snares 
of  the  enemy  :  let  thy  holy 
Angels  dwell  herein,who  may 
keep  us  in  peace,  and  may 
thy  blessing  be  always  upon 
us.  Through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord,  thy  Son,  who  liveth 
and  reigneth  with  thee,  in  the 
unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  God, 
world  without  end.    Amen. 


$".  Drop  down  dew,  ye 
heavens,  from  above,  and  let 
the  clouds  rain  the  Just  One. 

I£.  Let  theearthbe  opened, 
and  bud  forth  the  Saviour. 


$".  Borate,    cceli   desuper, 
et  nubes  pluant  justum. 

1$.  Aperiatur  terra  et  ger- 
minet  Salvatorem. 


To  which  add  one  of  the  four  prayers  for 
Advent,  taking  the  one  which  belongs  to  the  week 
(as  above,  page  51),  and  then  retire  to  rest  in  the 
expectation  of  Him  who  is  to  come  in  the  mid-night 


CHAPTER  THE  FIFTH. 

ON  HEARING  MASS  DURING  THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 

There  is  no  exercise  which  is  more  pleasing  to  God, 
or  more  meritorious,  or  which  has  greater  influence 
in  infusing  solid  piety  into  the  soul,  than  the  assist- 
ing at  the  holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass.  If  this  be  true 
at  all  the  various  seasons  of  the  Christian  Year,  it  is 
so,  in  a  very  especial  manner,  during  the  holy  time  of 
Advent.  The  Faithful,  therefore,  should  make  every 
effort  in  order  to  enjoy  this  precious  blessing,  even  on 
those  days  when  they  are  not  obliged  to  it  by  the 
precept  of  the  Church. 

With  what  gratitude  ought  they  not  to  assist  at 
that  divine  Sacrifice,  for  which  the  world  had  been 
longing  for  four  thousand  years  !  God  has  granted 
them  to  be  born  after  the  fulfilment  of  that  stupendous 
and  merciful  oblation,  and  would  not  put  them  in  the 
generations  of  men,  who  died  before  they  could  par- 
take of  its  reality  and  its  riches  !  This  notwith- 
standing, they  must  earnestly  unite  with  the  Church, 
in  praying  for  the  coming  of  the  Redeemer,  so  to  pay 
their  share  of  that  great  debt  which  God  has  put 
upon  all,  whether  living  before  or  after  the  fulfilment 
of  the  mystery  of  the  Incarnation.  Let  them  think 
of  this  in  assisting  at  the  holy  Sacrifice. 

Let  them  also  remember,  that  this  great  Sacrifice, 
which  perpetuates  on  this  earth,  even  to  the  end  of 
time,  though  in  an  unbloody  manner,  the  real  obla- 
tion of  the  Body  and  Blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  has  this 
for  its  express  aim, — to  prepare  the  souls  of  the  Faith- 
ful for  the  mysterious  coming  of  God,  who  only  re- 
deemed our  souls  that  he  might  take  possession  of 


MASS.  63 

them.     It  not   only  prepares,  it   even   effects   this 
glorious  Advent. 

Let  them,  in  the  third  place,  lovingly  profit  by  the 
presence  of,  and  intimacy  with,  Jesus,  to  which  this 
hidden  yet  saving  mystery  admits  them;  that  so, 
when  he  comes  in  that  other  way,  whereby  he  will 
judge  the  world  in  terrible  majesty,  he  may  recog- 
nise them  as  his  friends,  and  even  then,  when  mercy 
shall  give  place  to  justice,  again  save  them. 

We  will  now  endeavour  to  embody  these  sentiments 
in  our  explanation  of  the  Mysteries  of  the  holy  Mass, 
and  initiate  the  Faithful  into  these  divine  secrets ; 
not,  indeed,  by  indiscreetly  presuming  to  translate  the 
sacred  formulae,  but  by  suggesting  such  Acts,  as  will 
enable  those  who  hear  Mass,  to  enter  into  the  cere- 
monies and  sentiments  of  the  Church  and  the 
Priest. 

The  Faithful,  in  assisting  at  Mass  during  Advent, 
should  first  know  whether  it  is  going  to  be  said  ac- 
cording to  the  Advent  rite,  or  in  honour  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  or  of  a  Saint,  or,  finally,  for  the  Dead.  The 
colour  of  the  Vestments  worn  by  the  Priest  will  tell 
them  all  this.  Purple  is  used,  if  the  Mass  be  of 
Advent  ;  white  or  red,  if  of  our  Lady  or  the  Saints  ; 
and  black,  if  for  the  Dead.  If  the  Priest  be  vested  in 
purple,  the  Faithful  must  excite  within  themselves 
the  spirit  of  penance,  which  the  Church  would  signify 
by  this  colour.  They  should  do  the  same,  no  matter 
what  may  be  the  colour  of  the  Vestments  ;  for  in 
every  Mass  during  Advent,  with  the  exception  of 
Masses  for  the  Dead,  the  Priest  is  obliged,  even  on 
the  greatest  feasts,  to  make  a  commemoration  of 
Advent  three  separate  times ;  and  thus  to  make  use 
of  the  same  expressions  of  repentance  and  sorrow  as 
he  would  in  a  Mass  proper  to  the  time  of  Advent. 

On  the  Sundays,  if  the  Mass  at  which  they  assist  be 
the  Parochial,  or,  as  it  is  often  called,  the  Public 
Mass,  two  solemn  rites  precede  it,  which  are  full  of 


G4 


ADVENT. 


instruction  and  blessing, — the  Asperges,  or  sprinkling 
of  the  Holy  Water,  and  the  Procession. 

During  the  Asperges,  let  them  ask  for  that  purity 
of  heart,  which  is  necessary  for  the  having  a  share  in 
the  twofold  Coming  of  Jesus  Christ;  and  in  receiving 
the  Holy  Water,  the  sprinkling  of  which  prepares  us 
for  the  assisting  worthily  at  the  great  Sacrifice, 
wherein  is  poured  forth,  not  a  figurative  water,  but 
the  very  Blood  of  the  Lamb,  they  should  think  of 
that  Baptism  of  water,  by  means  of  which  St.  John 
the  Baptist  prepared  the  Jews  for  that  other  Baptism, 
which  the  power  and  mercy  of  the  Bedeemer  were 
afterwards  to  give  to  mankind. 


antiphon  OF  the  Asperges. 


Asperges  me,  Domine, 
hyssopo,  et  mundabor ;  lava- 
bis  me,  et  super  nivem  deal- 
babor. 

Ps.  Miserere  mei,  Deus, 
secundum  magnam  miseri- 
cordiam  tuam. 

ft.  Gloria  Patri,  &c. 

Ant.  Asperges  me,  &c. 

$\  Ostende  nobis,  Domine, 
misericordiam  tuam. 

J$.  Et  salutare  tuum  da 
nobis. 

$".  Domine,  exaudi  ora- 
tionem  meam. 

1$.  Et  clamor  meus  ad  te 
veniat. 

y.  Dominus  vobiscum. 

1$.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 


Thou  shalt  sprinkle  me 
with  hyssop,  O  Lord,  and  I 
shall  be  cleansed ;  thou  shalt 
wash  me,  and  I  shall  be  made 
whiter  than  snow. 

Ps.  Have  mercy  on  me,  O 
God,  according  to  thy  great 
mercy. 

f.  Glory,  &c. 

Ant.  Sprinkle  me,  &c. 

"ft.  Show  us,  0  Lord,  thy 
mercy. 

Ijfc.  And  grant  us  the  Sa- 
viour, whom  we  expect  from 
thee. 

"ft.  0  Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

~tfd.  And  let  my  cry  come 
unto  thee. 
'ff.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 
I£.  And  with  thy  spirit. 


OREMTJS. 

Exaudi  nos,  Domine  sancte, 
Pater  omnipotens,  seterne 
Deus :  et  mittere  digneris 
sanctum  Angelum  tuum  de 


LET  US  PRAY. 


Graciously  hear  us,  O  holy 
Lord,  Father  Almighty, 
eternal  God  :  and  vouchsafe 
to  send  thy  holy  Angel  from 


THE  OEDINARY  OF  THE  MASS. 


65 


heaven,  who  may  keep,  che- 
rish, protect,  visit,  and  defend 
all  who  are  assembled  in  this 

Elace.     Through  Christ  our 
iOrd. 
1$.  Amen. 


ccelis  qui  custodiat,  foveat, 
protegat,  visitet  atque  de- 
fen  dat  omnes  habitantes  in 
hoc  habitaculo.  Per  Chris- 
tum Dominum  nostrum. 
J$.  Amen. 


The  Procession,  which  immediately  precedes  the 
Mass,  should  remind  us  how  we  ought  to  be  stand- 
ing with  lamps  burning  in  our  hands,  ready  to  go 
out  and  meet  our  Lord,  who  is  coming.1  The  Church 
is  ever  advancing  towards  her  Spouse  in  an  unbroken 
procession,  and  our  souls  should  be  ever  hastening 
towards  their  Sovereign  Good,  never  resting  until 
they  have  found  him. 

But  see,  Christians,  the  Sacrifice  begins  !  The 
Priest  is  at  the  foot  of  the  altar ;  God  is  attentive, 
the  Angels  are  in  adoration,  the  whole  Church  is 
united  with  the  Priest,  whose  priesthood  and  action 
are  those  of  the  great  High  Priest,  Jesus  Christ. 
Let  us  make  the  sign  of  the  cross  with  him. 


THE   ORDINARY   OF   THE  MASS. 


In  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost    Amen. 

I  unite  myself,  O  my 
God,  with  thy  Church,  who 
comes  to  seek  consolation  in 
Jesus  Christ  thy  Son,  who  is 
the  true  Altar. 

Like  her,  I  beseech  thee  to 
defend  me  against  the  malice 
of  the  enemies  of  my  salva- 
tion. 

It  is  in  thee  that  I  have 
put  my  hope  ;  yet  do  I  feel 
sad  and  troubled  at  being  in 
the  midst  of  the  snares  which 
are  set  for  me. 


In  nomine  Patris  et  Filii 
et  Spiritus  Sancti.    Amen. 

~ff.  Introibo  ad  altare  Dei. 
1$.  Ad  Deum  qui  lsetificat 
juventutem  meam. 


Judica  me,  Deus,  et  dis- 
cern e  causam  meam  de  gente 
non  sancta  :  ab  homine 
iniquo  et  doloso  erue  me. 

Quia  tu  es,  Deus,  fortitudo 
mea  :  quare  me  repulisti  1  et 
quare  tristis  incedo,  dum 
affligit  me  inimicus  ] 


1  St.  Luke,  xii.  35. 


66 


ADVENT. 


Emitte  lucem  tuam  et  ve- 
ritatem  tuam  :  ipsa  me  de- 
duxerunt  et  adduxerunt  in 
montem  sanctum  tuum,  et  in 
tabernacula  tua. 

Et  introibo  ad  altare  Dei  : 
ad  Deum  qui  lsetificat  ju- 
ventutem  meam. 

Confitebor  tibi  in  cithara 
Deus,  Deus  meus :  quare 
tristis  es  anima  mea  1  et 
quare  conturbas  me  1 

Spera  in  Deo,  quoniam  ad- 
huc  confitebor  illi  :  salutare 
vultus  mei,  et  Deus  meus. 

Gloria  Patri,  et  Filio,  et 
Spiritui  Sancto. 

Sicut  erat  in  principio,  et 
nunc  et  semper,  et  in  saecula 
sseculorum.     Amen. 

ft.  Introibo  ad  altare  Dei. 

3^.  Ad  Deum  qui  lsetificat 
juventutem  meam. 

ft.  Adjutorium  nostrum 
in  nomine  Domini. 

1$.  Qui  fecit  coelum  et 
terram. 


Send  me,  then,  him  who  is 
light  and  truth  ;  it  is  he  that 
will  open  to  us  the  way  to  thy 
holy  mount,  to  thy  heavenly 
tabernacle. 

He  is  the  Mediator  and 
the  living  Altar  ;  I  will  draw 
nigh  to  him,  an  d  be  filled  with 

joy. 

When  he  shall  have  come, 
I  will  sing  in  my  gladness. 
Be  not  sad,  O  my  soul !  why 
wouldst  thou  be  troubled  ] 

Hope  in  his  Coming  ;  he 
who  is  thy  Saviour  and  thy 
God,  will  soon  be  with  thee. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and 
to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

As  it  was  in  the  beginning, 
is  now,  and  ever  shall  be, 
world  without  end.    Amen. 

I  am  to  go  to  the  altar  of 
God,  and  feel  the  presence  of 
him  who  consoles  me  ! 

This  my  hope  comes  not 
from  any  merits  of  my  own, 
but  from  the  all-powerful 
help  of  my  Creator. 


This  announcement  of  the  Coming  of  our  Lord, 
excites  in  the  soul  of  the  Priest  a  lively  sentiment  of 
compunction.  He  cannot  go  further  in  the  holy 
Sacrifice  without  confessing,  and  publicly,  that  he  is 
a  sinner,  and  deserves  not  the  grace  he  is  about  to 
receive.  Listen,  with  respect,  to  this  confession  of 
God's  Minister,  and  earnestly  ask  our  Lord  to  show 
mercy  to  him ;  for  the  Priest  is  your  Father ;  he  is 
answerable  for  your  salvation,  for  which  he  every  day 
risks  his  own.  When  he  has  finished,  unite  with  the 
Servers,  or  the  Sacred  Ministers,  in  this  prayer  : 


Misereatur  tui  omnipotens 
Deus,   et    dimissis    peccatis 


May  Almighty  God  have 
mercy  on  thee,  and,  forgiving 


THE   ORDINARY   OF   THE   MASS. 


67 


thy  sins,  bring  thee  to  ever- 
lasting life. 


tuis,  perducat   te   ad  vitam 
seternam. 


The  Priest  having  answered  Amen,  make    your 
confession,  saying  with  a  contrite  spirit : 


I  confess  to  Almighty  God, 
to  Blessed  Mary  ever  Virgin, 
to  blessed  Michael  the  Arch- 
angel, to  blessed  John  Bap- 
tist, to  the"holy  Apostles  Peter 
and  Paul,  to  all  the  saints, 
and  to  thee,  Father,  that  I 
have  sinned  exceedingly  in 
thought,  word,  and  deed, 
through  my  fault,  through 
my  fault,  through  my  most 
grievous  fault.  Therefore,  I 
beseech  the  Blessed  Mary 
ever  Virgin,  blessed  Michael 
the  Archangel,  blessed  John 
Baptist,  the  holy  Apostles 
Peter  and  Paul,  and  all  the 
saints,  and  thee,  Father,  to 
pray  to  our  Lord   God  for 


ConfiteorDeo  omnipotenti, 
beatse  Marias  semper  Virgini, 
beato  Michaeli  Archangelo, 
beato  Joanni  Baptistae,  Sanc- 
tis Apostolis  Petro  et  Paulo, 
omnibus  Sanctis,  et  tibi, 
Pater :  quia  peccavi  nimis 
cogitatione,  verbo,  et  opere  : 
mea  culpa,  mea  culpa,  mea 
maxima  culpa.  Ideo  precor 
beatam  Mariam  semper  Vir- 
ginem,  beatum  Michaelem 
Archangelum,  beatum  Joan- 
nem  Baptistam,  sanctos 
Apostolos  Petrum  et  Paulum, 
omnes  sanctos,  et  te,  Pater, 
orare  pro  me  ad  Dominum 
Deum  nostrum. 


Receive  with  gratitude  the  paternal  wish  of  the 
Priest,  who  says  to  you  : 


Misereatur  vestri  omnipo- 
tens  Deus,  et  dimissis  pec- 
catis  vestris,  perducat  vos 
ad  vitam  seternam. 

I£.  Amen. 

Iadulgentiam,  absolutio- 
nem,  et  remissionem  pec- 
catorum  nostrorum,  tribuat 
nobis  omnipotens  et  iniseri- 
cors  Dominus. 

I£.  Amen. 

Invoke  the  divine  assistance,  that  you  may  ap- 
proach to  Jesus  Christ. 

$\  O  God,  it  needs  but  one        y.  Deus,  tu  con  versus  vi- 
look  of  thine  to  give  us  life,      vificabis  nos. 


May    Almighty    God     be 
merciful  to  you,  and,  forgiv- 
ing your  sins,  bring  you  to 
everlasting  life. 
.1$.  Amen. 

May  the  Almighty  and 
merciful  Lord  grant  us  par- 
don, absolution,  and  remis- 
sion of  our  sins. 

1$.  Amen. 


68 


ADVENT. 


1$.  Et  plebs  tua  lsetabitur 
in  te. 

ft.  Ostende  nobis,  Domi- 
ne,  misericordiam  tuam. 

1$.  Et  Salutare  tuum  da 
nobis. 

ft.  D  online,  exaudi  ora- 
tionem  meam. 

1$.  Et  clamor  meus  ad  te 
veniat. 


1$.  And  thy  people  shall 
rejoice  in  thee. 

ft.  Show  us,  O  Lord,  thy 
mercy. 

Ijfc.  And  give  us  the  Saviour 
whom  thou  hast  prepared  for 
us. 

ft.  0  Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

]$.  And  let  my  cry  come 
unto  thee. 


The  Priest  here  leaves  you  to  ascend  to  the  altar; 
but  first  he  salutes  you: 

ft.  Dominus  vobiscum.  ft.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 

Answer  him  with  reverence  : 

]$.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo.  1$.  And  with  thy  spirit. 


OEEMUS. 


LET  US  PEAY. 


He  ascends  the  steps,  and  conies  to  the  Holy  of 
Holies.  Ask,  both  for  him  and  yourself,  the  deliver- 
ance from  sin. 


Aufer  a  nobis,  qusesumus 
Domine,  iniquitates  nostras  ; 
ut  ad  Sancta  sanctorum  puris 
mereamur  mentibus  introire. 
Per  Christum  Dominum  nos- 
trum.    Amen. 


Take  from  our  hearts,  O 
Lord,  all  those  sins,  which 
make  us  unworthy  of  thy 
visit ;  we  ask  this  of  thee  by 
thy  divine  Son,  our  Lord. 


When  the  Priest  kisses  the  altar,  out  of  reverence 
for  the  relics  of  the  Martyrs  which  are  there,  say : 

Generous  soldiers  of  Jesus 
Christ,  who  have  mingled 
your  own  blood  with  his,  in- 
tercede for  us  that  our  sins 
may  be  forgiven  ;  that  so  we 
may,  like  you,  approach  unto 
God. 

If  it  be  a  High  Mass  at  which  you  are  assisting, 
the  Priest  incenses  the  Altar  in  a  most  solemn  man- 


Oramus  te,  Domine,  per 
merita  sanctorum  tuorum 
quorum  reliquiae  hie  sunt,  et 
omnium  Sanctorum  :  ut  in- 
dulgere  digneris  omnia  pec- 
cata  mea.    Amen. 


THE  ORDINARY   OF  THE  MASS.  69 

ner ;  and  this  white  cloud  which  you  see  ascending 
from  every  part  of  the  Altar,  signifies  the  prayer  of 
the  Church,  who  addresses  herself  to  Jesus  Christ ; 
and  which  this  Divine  Mediator  then  causes  to 
ascend,  united  with  his  own,  to  the  throne  of  the 
majesty  of  his  Father. 

The  Priest  then  says  the  Introit.  In  the  Masses 
proper  to  Advent,  it  is  a  cry  made  to  the  Messias, 
which  has  so  much  the  greater  power  with  God,  as  it 
goes  up  to  him  from  the  holy  Altar. 

It  is  followed  by  nine  exclamations,  which  are 
even  more  earnest,  for  they  ask  for  mercy.  In 
addressing  them  to  God,  the  Church  unites  herself 
with  the  nine  choirs  of  Angels,  who  are  standing 
round  the  altar  of  Heaven,  one  and  the  same  as  this 
before  which  you  are  kneeling. 

To  the  Father,  who  is  to  send  us  Ms  Son : 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Kyrie  eleison. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Kyrie  eleison. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Kyrie  eleison. 

To  the  Son,  who  is  to  come  to  us : 

Christ,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Christe  eleison. 

Christ,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Christe  eleison. 

Christ,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Christe  eleison. 

To  the  Holy  Ghost,  ivhose  operation  is  to  accomplish 
the  mystery:    * 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Kyrie  eleison. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Kyrie  eleison. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Kyrie  eleison. 

If  it  be  a  Feast,  the  Priest  says  the  Angelic 
Hymn,  which  the  Church  has  made  her  own  ever 
since  the  Birth  of  our  Saviour :  if  the  Mass  be 
proper  to  Advent,  the  Church  forbids  the  joyous 
Canticle  until  the  New  Birth  of  her  spouse  again 
comes  to  gladden  her. 


70 


ADVENT, 


THE   ANGELIC   HYMN. 


Glory  be  to  God  on  high, 
and  on  earth  peace  to  men  of 
good  will. 

We  praise  thee  :  we  bless 
thee  :  we  adore  thee :  we 
glorify  thee  :  we  give  thee 
thanks  for  thy  great  glory. 

O  Lord  God,  Heavenly 
King,  God  the  Father  Al- 
mighty. 

O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Only  Begotten  Son. 

O  Lord  God,  Lamb  of  God, 
Son  of  the  Father. 

Who  takest  away  the  sins 
of  the  world,  have  mercy  on 
us. 

Who  takest  away  the  sins 
of  the  world,  receive  our 
humble  prayer. 

Who  sittest  at  the  right 
hand  of  the  Father,  have 
mercy  on  us. 

For  thou  alone  art  holy, 
thou  alone  art  Lord,  thou 
alone,  O  Jesus  Christ,  to- 
gether with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
art  most  high,  in  the  glory  of 
God  the  Father.    Amen. 

The  Priest  turns  towards  the  people,  and  again 
salutes  them,  as  it  were  to  make  sure  of  their  pious 
attention  to  the  sublime  act,  for  which  all  this  is  but 
the  preparation.  The  words  of  this  greeting  are 
especially  beautiful  during  the  weeks  of  Advent: 
The  Lord  be  with  you  !  Isaias  had  foretold  that  it 
would  indeed  be  verified,  and  the  Angel  confirms 
the  prophecy  to  St.  Joseph,  when  he  thus  says  to 
him  :  "  He  shall  be  called  Emmanuel,  that  is,  God 
vrith  us."} 

1  St.  Matth.  i.  23. 


Gloria  in  excelsis  Deo,  et 
in  terra  pax  hominibus  bonae 
voluntatis. 

Laudamus  te  :  benediei- 
miis  te  :  adoramus  te  :  glori- 
ficamus  te  :  gratiaa  agimus 
tibi  propter  magnam  gioriam 
tuam. 

Domine  Deus  Rex  coeles- 
tis,  Deus  Pater  omnipotens.  - 

Domine,  Fili  unigenite, 
Jesu  Christe. 

Domine  Deus,  Agnus  Dei, 
Filius  Patris. 

Qui  tollis  peccata  mundi. 
miserere  nobis. 

Qui  tollis  peccata  mundi, 
suscipe  deprecationem  nos- 
tram. 

Qui  sedes  ad  dexteram  Pa- 
tris, miserere  nobis. 

Quoniam  tu  solus  sanctus, 
tu  solus  Dominus,  tu  solus 
Altissimus,  Jesu  Christe,  cum 
Sancto  Spiritu,  in  gloria  Dei 
Patris.     Amen. 


THE  ORDINARY  OF   THE  MASS.  71 

Then  follows  the  Collect  or  Prayer,  in  which  the 
Church  formally  expresses  to  the  divine  Majesty  the 
special  intentions  she  has  in  the  Mass  which  is  being 
celebrated.  You  may  unite  in  this  prayer,  by  recit- 
ing with  the  Priest  the  Collects  which  you  will  find 
in  their  proper  places  :  but  on  no  account  omit  to 
join  with  the  server  of  the  Mass  in  answering  Amen. 

Then  follows  the  Epistle,  which  is,  generally,  a  por- 
tion of  one  or  other  of  the  Epistles  of  the  Apostles, 
or  a  passage  from  some  Book  of  the  Old  Testament. 
Listen  to  this  word  of  God's  Messengers  with  respect 
and  submission,  and  long  for  Him  who  is  the  eternal 
Word,  and  who  is  soon  to  be  born  among  men  and 
converse  with  them. 

The  Gradual  is  an  intermediate  formula  of  prayer 
between  the  Epistle  and  Gospel.  It  again  brings  to 
our  attention  the  sentiments  which  were  expressed 
in  the  Introit.  Read  it  with  devotion,  so  as  to  get 
more  and  more  into  the  spirit  of  preparation  for  the 
coming  of  your  Saviour. 

The  Alleluia  is  like  a  thrill  of  joy,  which  seizes 
the  soul  of  the  Church,  and  makes  her  exult,  as  she 
reflects  that  she  already  possesses  the  Spouse,  of 
whom  she  is  in  expectation  ;  but  this  is  only  for  a 
moment ; — she  resumes  her  attitude  of  a  suppliant, 
asking  him  to  come,  for  she  feels  that  she  needs  his 
new  coming. 

Until  the  happy  hour  when  he  will  come  in  per- 
son, he  comes  to  us  by  his  words,  which  are  spirit 
and  life.  The  Gospel  is  about  to  be  read  aloud  in 
the  assembly  of  the  faithful ;  the  poor  are  to  have 
the  gospel  preached  unto  them.  If  it  be  a  High  Mass, 
the  Deacon  prepares  to  fulfil  his  noble  office,  that  of 
announcing  the  Good  Tidings  of  Salvation.  He  prays 
God  to  cleanse  his  heart  and  lips.  Then  kneeling, 
lie  asks  the  Priest's  blessing ;  and  having  received  it, 
he  at  once  goes  to  the  place  where  he  is  to  sing 
the  Gospel. 


72  ADVENT. 

As  a  preparation  for  hearing  it  worthily,  you  may 
thus  pray,  together  with  the  Priest  and  Deacon : 

Munda  cor  meum,  ac  labia  Alas  !   these  ears  of  mine 

mea,  omnipotens  Deus,  qui  are  but  too  of  ten  denied  with 

labia  Isaiae  Prophetse  calculo  the    world's     vain     words  ; 

mundasti  ignito  :  ita  me  tua  cleanse  them,  0  Lord,  that 

grata    miseratione     dignare  so  I  may  hear  the  words  of 

mundare,  ut  sanctum  Evan-  eternal  life,  and  treasure  them 

gelium   tuum   digne  valeam  in  my  heart.     Through  our 

nuntiare.     Per  Christum  Do-  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     Amen, 
mimim  nostrum.    Amen. 

Dominus  sit  in  corde  meo,  Grant  to  thy  ministers  thy 

et  in  labiis  meis  :    ut  digne  grace,  that  _  they  may  f aith- 

et    competenter    annuntiem  fully  explain  thy  law ;  that 

Evangelium  suum  :     In  no-  so  all,  both  pastors  and  flock, 

mine  Patris,  et  Filii,  et  Spi-  may  be   united  to  thee  for 

ritus  Sancti.    Amen.  ever.    Amen, 

You  will  stand  during  the  Gospel,  as  though  you 
were  waiting  the  orders  of  your  Lord  ;  and  at  the 
commencement,  make  the  sign  of  the  Cross  on  your 
forehead,  lips,  and  breast;  and  then  listen  to  every 
word  of  the  Priest  or  Deacon.  Let  your  heart  be 
ready  and  obedient.  Whilst  my  beloved  was  speak- 
ing, says  the  Spouse  in  the  Canticle,  my  soul  melted 
within  me.1  If  you  have  not  such  love  as  this,  have 
at  least  the  humble  submission  of  Samuel,  and  say  : 
SpeaJc,  Lord  !  thy  servant  heareth.2 

After  the  Gospel,  if  the  Priest  says  the  Symbol  of 
Faith,  the  Credo,  you  will  say  it  with  him.  Faith  is 
that  gift  of  God,  without  which  we  cannot  please 
him.  It  is  by  it  that  we  are  now  looking  for  the 
coming  of  our  Redeemer,  whom  as  yet  we  do  not  see ; 
and  it  is  faith  which  will  merit  for  us  the  grace  of 
his  ineffable  visit.  Faith  is  the  mark  of  those  true 
Israelites,  who  are  looking  for  the  Messias,  and  will 
find  him.  Let  us  then  say  with  the  Catholic  Church, 
our  Mother : 


Cant.  v.  6.  a  I.  Kings,  iii.  10. 


THE   ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS. 


73 


THE  NICENE  CREED. 


I  believe  in  one  God,  the 
Father  Almighty,  maker  of 
heaven  and  earth,  and  of  all 
things  visible  and  invisible. 

And  in  one  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Only  Begotten  Son 
of  God.  And  born  of  the 
Father  before  all  ages  ;  God 
of  God,  light  of  light  ;  true 
God  of  true  God.  Begotten, 
not  made  ;  consubstantial  to 
the  Father :  by  whom  all 
things  were  made.  Who  for 
us  men  and  for  our  salvation, 
came  down  from  heaven. 
And  became  Incarnate  by  the 
Holy  Ghost,  of  the  Virgin 
Mary ;  and  was  made  man. 
He  was  crucified  also  for  us, 
under  Pontius  Pilate,  suf- 
fered, and  was  buried.  And 
the  third  day  he  rose  again 
according  to  the  Scriptures. 
And  ascended  into  heaven, 
sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of 
the  Father.  And  he  is  to 
come  again  with  glory,  to 
judge  the  living  and  the 
dead ;  of  whose  kingdom 
there  shall  be  no  end. 

And  in  the  Holy  Ghost, 
the  Lord  and  giver  of  life, 
who  proceedeth  from  the 
Father  and  the  Son.  Who 
together  with  the  Father  and 
the  Son,  is  adored  and  glori- 
fied ;  who  spoke  by  the  Pro- 
phets. And  one  holy  Catho- 
lic and  Apostolic  Church.  I 
confess  one  Baptism  for  the 
remission  of  sins.  And  I 
expect  the  resurrection  of 
the  dead,  and  the  life  of  the 
world  to  come.    Amen. 


Credo  in  unum  Deum, 
Patrem  omnipotentem,  fac- 
torem  cceli  et  terrae,  visibi- 
lium  omnium  et  invisibi- 
lium. 

Et  in  unum  Dominum 
Jesum  Christum,  Filium  Dei 
unigenitum.  Et  ex  Patre 
natum  ante  omnia  ssecula, 
Deum  de  Deo,  lumen  de 
lumine,  Deum  verum  de  Deo 
vero.  Genitum  non  factum, 
consubstantialem  Patri :  per 
quern  omnia  facta  sunt.  Qui 
propter  nos  homines,  et  prop- 
ter nostram  salutem,  descen- 
dit  de  coelis.  Et  incarnatus 
est  de  Spiritu  Sancto,  ex 
Maria  Virgine  ;  et  homo  fac- 
tus  est.  Crucifixus  etiam  pro 
nobis  sub  Pontio  Pilato, 
passus,  et  sepultus  est.  Et 
resurrexit  tertia  die,  secun- 
dum Scripturas.  Et  ascendit 
in  ccelum  ;  sedet  ad  dexteram 
Patris.  Et  iterum  venturus 
est  cum  gloria  judicare  vivos 
et  mortuos  ;  cujus  regni  non 
erit  finis. 


Et  in  Spiritum  Sanctum, 
Dominum  et  _  vivificantem, 
qui  ex  Patre  Filioque  proce- 
dit.  Qui  cum  Patre  et  Filio 
simul  adoratur,  et  conglorifi- 
catur ;  qui  locutus  est  per 
Prophetas.  Et  unam  sanctam 
Catholicam  et  Apostolicam 
Ecclesiam.  Confiteor  unum 
Baptisma  inremissionem  pec- 
catorum.  Et  exspecto  resur- 
rectionem  mortuorum,  et 
vitam  venturi  saeculi.   Amen. 


74  ADVENT. 

The  Priest  and  the  people  should,  by  this  time, 
have  their  hearts  ready  :  it  is  time  to  prepare  the 
offering  itself.  And  here  we  come  to  the  second  part 
of  the  Holy  Mass,  which  is  called  the  Oblation,  and 
which  immediately  follows  that  which  was  called  the 
Mass  of  Catechumens,  on  account  of  its  being  for- 
merly the  only  part  at  which  the  candidates  for  Bap- 
tism had  a  right  to  be  present. 

See,  then,  dear  Christians  !  bread  and  wine  are 
about  to  be  offered  to  God,  as  being  the  noblest  of 
inanimate  creatures,  since  they  are  made  for  the 
nourishment  of  man ;  and  even  that  is  only  a  poor 
material  image  of  what  they  are  destined  to  become 
in  our  Christian  sacrifice.  Their  substance  will  soon 
give  place  to  God  himself,  and  of  themselves  nothing 
will  remain  but  the  appearances.  Happy  creatures, 
thus  to  yield  up  their  own  being,  that  God  may  take 
its  place  !  We,  too,  are  to  undergo  a  like  transforma- 
tion, when,  as  the  Apostle  expresses  it,  that  which  in 
us  is  mortal  shall  put  on  immortality}  Until  that 
happy  change  shall  be  realised,  let  us  offer  ourselves 
to  God  as  often  as  we  see  the  bread  and  wine  pre- 
sented to  him  in  the  Holy  Sacrifice  ;  and  let  us 
prepare  ourselves  for  the  coming  of  Jesus,  who  will 
transform  us,  by  making  us  partakers  of  the  divine 
nature? 

The  Priest  again  turns  to  the  people  with  the 
usual  salutation,  as  though  he  would  warn  them  to 
redouble  their  attention.  Let  us  read  the  Offertory 
with  him,  and  when  he  offers  the  Host  to  God,  let  us 
unite  with  him  in  saying : 

Suscipe,  sancte  Pater,  om-  All  that  we  have,  0  Lord, 

nipotens  seterne  Deus,  hanc  comes  from  thee,  and  belongs 

immaculatam  hostiam,  quam  to  thee  ;  it  is  just,  therefore, 

ego  indignus  famulus  tuus  that  we  return  it  unto  thee, 

offero  tibi  Deo  meo  vivo  et  But,  how  wonderful  art  thou 

vero,    pro    innumerabilibus  in    the    inventions    of    thy 

1  I.  Cor.  xv.  53.  £  II.  St.  Pet.  i.  4. 


THE  ORDINARY   OF  THE  MASS. 


75 


peccatis  et  offensionibus  et 
negligentiis  meis,  et  pro  om- 
nibus circumstantibus,  sed  et 
pro  omnibus  fidelibus  chris- 
tians vivis  atque  defunctis  ; 
ut  mihi  et  illis  proficiat  ad 
salutem  in  vitam  aeternam. 
Amen. 


immense  love  !  This  bread 
which  we  are  offering  to  thee, 
is  to  give  place,  in  a  few 
moments,  to  the  sacred  Body 
of  Jesus.  We  beseech  thee, 
receive,  together  with  this 
oblation,  our  hearts,  which 
long  to  live  by  thee,  and  to 
cease  to  live  their  own  life  of 
self. 

When  the  Priest  puts  the  wine  into  the  chalice, 
and  then  mingles  with  it  a  drop  of  water,  let  your 
thoughts  turn  to  the  divine  mystery  of  the  Incarna- 
tion, which  in  a  few  days  is  to  be  manifested  to  the 
world ;  and  say : 


O  Lord  Jesus,  who  art  the 
true  Vine,  and  whose  Blood, 
like  a  generous  wine,  has 
been  poured  forth  under  the 
pressure  of  the  Cross  !  thou 
hast  deigned  to  unite  thy 
divine  nature  to  our  weak 
humanity,  which  is  signified 
by  this  drop  of  water.  Oh  ! 
come,  and  make  us  partakers 
of  thy  divinity,  by  showing 
thyself  to  us  in  thy  sweet  and 
wondrous  visit. 


_  Deus  qui  humanae  substan- 
tias dignitatem  mirabiliter 
conclidisti,  et  mirabilius  re- 
formasti :  da  nobis  per  hujus 
aquae  et  vini  mysterium,  ejus 
divinitatis  esse  consortes,  qui 
humanitatis  nostrae  fieri  dig- 
natus  est  particeps,  Jesus 
ChristusFilius  tuus  Dominus 
noster  :  qui  tecum  vivit  et 
regnat  in  unitate  Spiritus 
Sancti  Deus,  per  omnia  sae- 
cula  saeculorum.    Amen. 


The  Priest  then  offers  the  mixture  of  wine  and 
water,  beseeching  God  graciously  to  accept  this  obla- 
tion, the  figure  of  which  is  so  soon  to  be  changed 
into  the  reality,  of  which  it  is  now  hut  the  figure. 
Meanwhile,  say,  in  union  with  the  Priest : 

Graciously  accept  these  Offerimus  tibi,  Domine, 
gifts,  O  sovereign  Creator  of    calicem  salutaris,  tuam   de- 


all  things.  Let  them  be  fitted 
for  the  divine  transforma- 
tion, which  will  make  them, 
from  being  mere  offerings  of 
created  things,  the  instru- 
ment of  the  world's  salva- 
tion. 


precantes  clementiam  :  ut  in 
conspectu  divinae  Majestatis 
tuae,  pro  nostra  et  totius 
mundi  salute,  cum  odore  sua- 
vitatis  ascendat.    Amen. 


76  ADVENT. 

After  having  thus  held  up  the  sacred  gifts  towards 
heaven,  the  Priest  bows  down:  let  us,  also,  humble 
ourselves,  and  say : 

In  spiritu  humilitatis,  et  Though  daring,  as  we  do, 

in  animo  contrito  suscipia-  to  approach  thy  altar,  0  Lord, 

niur  a  te,  Doinine  :  et  sic  fiat  we  cannot  forget  that  we  are 

sacrificium  nostrum  in  con-  sinners.     Have  mercy  on  ns, 

spectu  tuo  hodie,  ut  placeat  and  delay  not  to  send  us  thy 

tibi,  Domine  Deus.  Son,  who  is  our  saving  Host. 

Let  us  next  invoke  the  Holy  Ghost,  whose  opera- 
tion is  about  to  produce  on  the  altar  the  presence  of 
the  Son  of  God,  as  it  did  in  the  womb  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary,  in  the  divine  mystery  of  the  Incarnation : 

Veni,  Sanctificator  omni-  Come,  O  Divine  Spirit, 
potens  seterne  Deus,  et  bene-  make  fruitful  the  offering 
die  hoc  sacrificium  tuo  sancto  which  is  upon  the  altar,  and 
nomini  praeparatum.  produce  in  our  hearts  Him 

whom  they  desire. 

If  it  be  a  High  Mass,  the  Priest,  before  proceeding 
any  further  with  the  Sacrifice,  takes  the  thurible  a 
second  time.  He  first  incenses  the  bread  and  wine 
which  have  been  just  offered,  and  then  the  altar 
itself;  hereby  inviting  the  faithful  to  make  their 
prayer,  which  is  signified  by  the  incense,  more  and 
more  fervent,  the  nearer  the  solemn  moment  ap- 
proaches. St.  John  tells  us  that  the  incense,  which 
burns  on  the  Altar  in  heaven,  is  made  of  the  Prayers 
of  the  Saints ;  thus,  during  the  time  of  Advent, 
the  incense,  which  envelopes  our  altar  on  earth  with 
its  fragrant  cloud,  may  be  taken  as  a  symbol  of  the 
longings  of  the  Patriarchs  and  Prophets  after  the 
Messias.  Let  us  imitate  them  by  our  ardent  desires 
for  this  same  Jesus. 

But  the  thought  of  his  own  unworthiness  becomes 
more  intense  than  ever  in  the  heart  of  the  Priest. 
The  public  confession,  which  he  made  at  the  foot  of 
the  altar,  is  not  enough ;  he  would  now,  at  the  altar 
itself,  express  to  the  people,  in  the  language  of  a 


THE   OKDINARY  OF  THE  MASS. 


77 


solemn  rite,  how  far  he  knows  himself  to  be  from 
that  spotless  sanctity  wherewith  he  should  approach 
to  God.  He  washes  his  hands.  Oar  hands  signify 
our  works ;  and  the  Priest,  though  by  his  priesthood 
he  bear  the  office  of  Jesus  Christ,  is,  by  his  works, 
but  man.  Seeing  your  Father  thus  humble  himself, 
do  you  also  make  an  act  of  humility,  and  say  with 
him  these  verses  of 

PSALM  25. 

I,  too,    would    wash    my 
hands,  O  Lord,  and  become 
like  unto  those  who  are  in- 
nocent, that  so  I  may    be 
worthy    to    come    near  thy 
altar,    and   hear  thy  sacred 
Canticles,  and  then  go   and 
proclaim  to  the  world    the 
wonders  of  thy  goodness.     I 
love  the  beauty  of  thy  House, 
which    thou    art    about    to 
make  the  dwelling-place   of 
thy  glory.     Leave  me  not,  O 
God,   in   the  midst  of  them 
that  are  enemies  both  to  thee 
and  me.     Thy  mercy  having 
separated  me  from  them,  I 
entered  on  the  path  of  inno- 
cence, and  was  restored  to 
thy  grace  ;  but  have  pity  on 
my  weakness  still ;   redeem 
me  yet  more,  thou  who  hast 
so    mercifully    brought    me 
back  to  the  right  path.     In 
the  midst  of  these  thy  faith- 
ful people,  T  give  thee  thanks. 
Glory  be  to  the  Father  and 
to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy 
Ghost ;   as  it  was  in  the  be- 
ginning,  is  now,    and    ever 
shall  be,  world  without  end. 
Amen. 

The  Priest,  taking  encouragement  from  the  act  of 
humility  he  has  just  made,  returns  to  the  middle  of 


Lavabo  inter  innocentes 
manus  meas  :  et  circumdabo 
altare  tuum,  Domine. 

Ut  audiam  vocem  laudis  : 
et  enarrem  universa  niira- 
bilia  tua. 

Domine,  dilexi  decorem 
domus  tuse,  et  locum  habi- 
tations glorias  tuae. 

Ne  perdas  cum  impiis, 
Deus,  animam  meam,  et  cum 
viris  sanguinum  vitam  meam. 

In  quorum  manibus  ini- 
qritates  sunt :  dextera  eorum 
repleta  est  muneribus. 

Ego  autem  in  innocentia 
mea  ingressus  sum  :  redime 
me,  et  miserere  mei. 

Pes  meus  stetit  in  directo  ; 
in  ecclesiis  benedicam  te, 
Domine. 

Gloria  Patri,  et  Filio,  et 
Spiritui  Sancto. 

Sicut  erat  in  principio,  et 
nunc,  et  semper,  et  in  ssecula 
sseculorum.     Amen. 


78  ADVENT. 

the  altar,  and  bows  down  full  of  respectful  awe,  begging 
of  God  to  receive  graciously  the  Sacrifice  which  is 
about  to  be  offered  to  him,  and  expresses  the  inten- 
tions for  which  it  is  offered.     Let  us  do  the  same. 

Suscipe,  sancta  Trinitas,  O  Holy  Trinity,  graciously 
hanc  oblationein,  quam  tibi  accept  the  Sacrifice  we  have 
offerimus  ob  memoriam  Pas-  begun.  We  offer  it  in  re- 
sionis,  Resurrectionis,  et  As-  membrance  of  the  Passion, 
censionis  Jesu  Christi  Do-  Resurrection,  and  Ascension 
mini  nostri :  et  in  honore  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
beatse  Mariae  semper  Virgi-  Permit  thy  Church  to  join 
nis,  et  beati  Joannis  Bap-  with  this  intention  that  of 
tistas,  et  sanctorum  Aposto-  honouring  the  ever  glorious 
lorum  Petri  et  Pauli,  et  isto-  Virgin  Mary,  the  blessed  Bap- 
rum,  et  omnium  Sanctorum  :  tist  John,  the  holy  Apostles 
lit  illis  proficiat  ad  honorem,  Peter  and  Paul,  the  Martyrs 
nobis  autem  ad  salutem  :  et  whose  relics  lie  here  under 
illi  pro  nobis  intercedere  dig-  our  altar  awaiting  their  re- 
nentur  in  ccelis  quorum  me-  surrection,  and  the  Saints 
moriam  agimus  in  terris.  Per  whose  memory  we  this  day 
eumdem  Christum  Dominum  celebrate.  Increase  the  glory 
nostrum.     Amen.  they  are  enjoying,  and  receive 

the  prayers  they  address  to 

thee  for  us. 

The  Priest  again  turns  to  the  people ;  it  is  for  the 
last  time  before  the  sacred  Mysteries  are  accomplished. 
He  feels  anxious  to  excite  the  fervour  of  the  people. 
Neither  does  the  thought  of  his  own  unworthiness 
leave  him  ;  and  before  entering  the  cloud  with  the 
Lord,  he  seeks  support  in  the  prayers  of  his  brethren 
who  are  present.     He  says  to  them : 

Orate,  fratres  :    ut   meum  Brethren,  pray  that  my  Sa- 

ac  vestrum    sacrificium    ac-  crifice,  which  is  yours  also, 

ceptabile    fiat    apud    Deum  may  be  acceptable  to  God, 

Patrem  omnipotentem.  our  Almighty  Father. 

With  this  request  he  turns  again  to  the  altar,  and 
you  will  see  his  face  no  more,  until  our  Lord  himself 
shall  have  come  down  from  heaven  upon  that  same 
altar.  Assure  the  Priest  that  he  has  your  prayers,  and 
say  to  him  : 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE   MASS.  79 

May  our  Lord  accept  this  Suscipiat  Dominus  sacri- 

Sacrifice  at  thy  hands,  to  the  ficiuui  de  manibus   tuis,  ad 

praise  and  glory  of  his  name,  laudem  et  gloriam    nominis 

and  for  our  benefit  and  that  sui,    ad    utilitatem    quoque 

of4ris  holy  Church  through-  nostrani  totiusque  Ecclesiaj 

out  the  world.  suse  sanctse. 

Here  the  Priest  recites  the  prayers  called  the  Se- 
crets, in  which  he  presents  the  petition  of  the  whole 
Church  for  God's  acceptance  of  the  Sacrifice,  and  then 
immediately  begins  to  fulfil  that  great  duty  of  reli- 
gion, Thanksgiving.  So  far  he  has  adored  God,  and 
has  sued  for  mercy ;  he  has  still  to  give  thanks  for  the 
blessings  bestowed  on  us  by  the  bounty  of  our  heavenly 
Father,  and  expressly  for  that  chiefest  of  all  his  gifts, 
— the  Messias.  We  are  in  the  season  of  expectation 
of  a  new  visit  of  this  Son  of  God  ;  the  Priest,  in  the 
name  of  the  Church,  is  about  to  give  expression  to 
the  gratitude  of  all  mankind.  In  order  to  excite  the 
faithful  to  that  intensity  of  gratitude  which  is  due  to 
God  for  all  his  gifts,  he  interrupts  his  own  and  their 
silent  prayer  by  terminating  it  aloud,  saying : 

For  ever  and  ever  !  Per  omnia  saecula  saeculo- 

rum  ! 

In  the  same  feeling,  answer  your  A  men  !  Then 
he  continues  : 

"ft.  The  Lord  be  with  you.        $".  Dominus  vobiscum. 
I£.  And  with  thy  spirit.  3$.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 

"ft.  Lift  up  your  hearts  !  $".  Sursum  corda  ! 

Let  your  response  be  sincere : 

1$.  We  have  them  fixed  on  I£.  Habemus  ad  Dominum. 
God. 

And  when  he  adds : 

$"!  Let  us  give  thanks  to  $".  Gratias  agamus  Domino 
the  Lord  our  God.  Deo  nostro. 

Answer  him  with  all  the  earnestness  of  your  soul ; 
1$.  It  is  meet  and  just.  1$.  Dignum  et  justum  est. 


80 


ADVENT. 


Then  the  Priest: 


THE  PREFACE 
(For  the  Sundays.) 


Vere  dignum  et  justum 
est,  aequum  et  salutare,  nos 
tibi  semper,  et  ubique  gra- 
tias  agere,  Domine  sancte, 
Pater  omnipotens,  aeterne 
Deus.  Qui  cum  unigenito 
Filio  tuo  et  Spiritu  Sancto 
unus  es  Deus,  unus  es  Do- 
minus  :  non  in  unius  singu- 
laritate  Personae,  sed  in 
unius  Trinitate  substantias. 
Quod  enim  de  tua  gloria, 
revelante  te,  credimus,  hoc 
de  Filio  tuo,  hoc  de  Spiritu 
Sancto,  sine  differentia  dis- 
cretionis  sentimus.  Ut  in 
confessione  verae,  sempiter- 
naeque  Deitatis,  et  in  Per- 
sonis  proprietas,  et  in  essen- 
tia unitas,  et  in  maj estate 
adoretur  aequalitas.  Quam 
laudant  Angeli  atque  Arch- 
angeli,  Cherubim  quoque  ac 
Seraphim  ;  qui  non  cessant 
clamare  quotidie,  una  voce 
dicentes,  Sanctus,  &c. 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 
right  and  available  to  salva- 
tion, that  we  should  always 
and  in  all  places  give  thanks 
to  thee,  0  Holy  Lord,  Father 
Almighty,  Eternal  God.  Who 
together  with  thy  only  begot- 
ten Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
art  one  God  and  one  Lord  : 
not  in  a  singularity  of  one 
Person,  but  in  a  Trinity  of  one 
substance.  For  what  we  be- 
lieve of  thy  glory,  as  thou  hast 
revealed,  the  same  we  believe 
of  thy  Son  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  without  any  difference 
or  distinction.  So  that  in  the 
confession  of  the  true  and 
eternal  Deity,  we  adore  a  dis- 
tinction in  the  Persons,  an 
unity  in  the  essence,  and  an 
equality  in  the  Majesty. 
Whom  the  Angels  and  Arch- 
angels, the  Cherubim  also  and 
Seraphim  praise,  and  cease 
not  daily  to  cry  out  with  one 
voice,  saying,  Holy,  &c~ 


THE   PREFACE 

(For  the  Week-days.) 


Vere  dignum  et  justum 
est,  aequum  et  salutare,  nos 
tibi  semper  et  ubique  gratias 
agere  :  Domine  sancte,  Pater 
omnipotens,  aeterne  Deus, 
per  Christum  Dominum 
nostrum  ;  per  quern  majes- 
tatem  tuam  laudant  Angeli, 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 
right  and  available  to  salva- 
tion, that  we  should  always 
and  in  all  places  give  thanks 
to  thee,  0  Holy  Lord,  Father 
Almighty,  Eternal  God  : 
through  Christ  our  Lord ; 
by  whom  the  Angels  praise 


THE   ORDINARY   OF   THE   MASS.^-  81 

thy    majesty,    the    Domina-  adorant    Domination es,  tre- 

tions   adore  it,    the  Powers  munt  Potestates,   Coeli,  cce- 

tremble  before  it ;  the  Hea-  lorumqne  Virtutes,  ac  beata 

vens  and  the  heavenly  Vir-  Seraphim,  socia  exsultatione 

tues,  and  the  blessed   Sera-  concelebrant.      Cum  quibus 

phim,  with  common  jubilee,  et  nostras  voces,  ut  admitti 

glorify    it.      Together    with  jubeas  deprecamur,  supplici 

whom,  we  beseech  thee  that  confessione  dicentes. 
we  may  be  admitted  to  join 
our  humble  voices,  saying  : 

Here  unite  with  the  Priest,  who,  on  his  part,  unites 
himself  with  the  blessed  Spirits,  in  giving  thanks  to 
God  for  the  unspeakable  Gift :  bow  down  and  say: 

Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  Lord  Sanctus,  Sanctus,  Sane- 
God  of  hosts  !  tus,  Dominus  Deus  sabaoth  ! 

Heaven  and  earth  are  full  Pleni  sunt  cceli   et   terrse 

of  thy  glory.  gloria  tua. 

Hosanna  in  the  highest  I  Hosanna  in  excelsis  ! 

Blessed  be  the  Saviour  who  Benedictns  cjui    venit   in 

is  coming, to  us  in  the  name  nomine  Domini, 
of  the  Lord  who  sends  him. 

Hosanna  be  to  him  in  the  Hosanna  in  excelsis  ! 
highest ! 

After  these  words  commences  the  Canon,  that 
mysterious  prayer  in  the  midst  of  which  heaven  bows 
down  to  earth,  and  God  descends  unto  us.  The  voice 
of  the  Priest  is  no  longer  heard ;  yea,  even'  at  the 
altar,  all  is  silence.  It  was  thus,  says  the  Book  of 
Wisdom,  in  the  quiet  of  silence,  and  while  the  night 
was  in  the  midst  of  her  course,  that  the  Almighty 
Word  came  down  from  his  royal  throne.1  Let  us 
await  him  in  a  like  silence,  and  respectfully  fix  our 
eyes  on  what  the  Priest  does  in  the  holy  place. 

THE  CANON   OF   THE  MASS. 

In  this  mysterious  colloquy  with  the  great  God  of 
heaven  and  earth,  the  first  prayer  of  the  sacrificing 
Priest  is  for  the  Catholic  Church,  his  and  our  Mother. 

1  Wisd.  xviii.  14,  15. 


82 


ADVENT. 


O  God,  who  manifestest 
thyself  unto  us  by  means  of 
the  mysteries,  which  thou 
hast  intrusted  to  thy  holy 
Church,  our  Mother  ;  we  be- 
seech thee,  by  the  merits 
of  this  sacrifice,  that  thou 
wouldst  remove  all  those 
hindrances  which  oppose  her 
during  her  pilgrimage  in  this 
world.  Give  her  peace  and 
unity.  Do  thou  thyself  guide 
our  Holy  Father  the  Pope, 
thy  Vicar  on  earth.  Direct 
thou  our  Bishop,  who  is  our 
sacred  link  of  unity;  and 
watch  over  all  the  orthodox 
children  of  the  Catholic  Apos- 
tolic Eoman  Church. 

Here  pray,  together  with  the  Priest,  for  those  whose 
interests  should  be  dearest  to  you. 


Te  igitur,  clementissime 
Pater,  per  Jesum  Christum 
Filium  tuum  Dominum  nos- 
trum supplices  rogamus  ac 
petimus,  uti  accepta  habeas, 
et  benedicas  hsec  dona,  hsec 
munera,  haec  sancta  sacrificia 
illibata,  in  primis  quae  tibi 
offerimus  pro  Ecclesia  tua 
sancta  Catholica  :  quam  paci- 
ficare,  custodire,  adunare,  et 
regere  digneris  toto  orbe  ter- 
rarum,  una  cum  famulo  tuo 
Papa  nostro  N.,  et  Antistite 
nostro  N.,  et  omnibus  ortho- 
doxis,  atque  catholicae  et 
apostolicse  fidei  cultoribus. 


Memento,  Domine,  famu- 
lorum  famularumque  tuarum 
N.  et  1ST.,  et  omnium  circum- 
stantium,  quorum  tibi  fides 
cognita  est,  et  nota  devotio  : 
pro  quibus  tibi  offerimus,  vel 
qui  tibi  offerunt  hoc  sacrifi- 
cium  laudis,  pro  se,  suisque 
omnibus,  pro  redemptione 
animarum  suarum,  pro  spe 
salutis  et  incolumitatis  suae  ; 
tibique  reddunt  vota  sua 
asterno  Deo,  vivo  et  vero. 


Permit  me,  0  God,  to  in- 
tercede with  thee  in  more 
earnest  prayer  for  those,  for 
whom  thou  knowest  that  I 
have  a  special  obligation  to 
pray :  *  *  *  Pour  down 
thy  blessings  upon  them.  Let 
them  partake  of  the  fruits  of 
this  divine  Sacrifice,  which  is 
offered  unto  thee  in  the  name 
of  all  mankind.  Visit  them 
by  thy  grace,  pardon  them 
their  sins,  grant  them  the 
blessings  of  this  present  life 
and  of  that  which  is  eternal. 

Here  let  us  commemorate  the  Saints :  they  are 
that  portion  of  the  Body  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  is 
called  the  Church  Triumphant. 

Communicantes,  et  memo- 
riam  venerantes,  in  primis 
gloriosaa  semper  Virginis 
Marise,  Genitricis  Dei  et 
Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi : 


But  the  offering  of  this 
Sacrifice,  O  my  God,  does  not 
unite  us  with  those  only  of 
our  brethren  who  are  still  in 
this  transient  life  of  trial :  it 


THE   OKDINARY  OF  THE  MASS. 


8.' 


brings  us  closer  to  those  also, 
who  are  already  in  possession 
of  heaven.  Therefore  it  is,  that 
we  wish  to  honour  by  it  the 
memory  of  the  glorious  and 
ever  Virgin  Mary;  of  the 
Apostles,  Confessors,  Virgins, 
and  of  all  the  Saints  •  that 
so  they  may  assist  us,  by  their 
powerful  intercession,  to  be- 
come worthy  to  contemplate 
thee,  as  they  now  do,  in  the 
mansion  of  thy  glory. 


sed  et  beatorum  Apostolo- 
rum  ac  Martyrum  tuorum, 
Petri  et  Pauli,  Andreas,  Ja- 
cobi,  Joannis,  Thorn  ae,  Ja- 
cobi,  Philippi,  Bartholomaei, 
Matthaei,  Simon  is,  et  Thad- 
daei :  Lini,  Cleti,  Clementis, 
Xysti,  Cornelii,  Cypriani, 
Laurentii,  Chrysogoni,  Jo- 
annis et  Pauli,  Cosmae  et 
Damiani,  et  omnium  Sanc- 
torum tuorum,  quorum  men- 
tis precibusque  concedas,  ut 
in  omnibus  protectionis  tuae 
muniamur  auxilio.  Per  eum- 
dem  Christum  Dominum  nos- 
trum.    Amen. 

The  Priest,  who,  up  to  this  time,  had  been  praying 
with  his  hands  extended,  now  joins  them,  and  holds 
them  over  the  bread  and  wine,  as  the  High  Priest  of 
the  Old  Law  did  over  the  figurative  victim  :  he  thus 
expresses  his  intention  of  bringing  these  gifts  more 
closely  under  the  notice  of  the  Divine  Majesty,  and 
of  marking  them  as  the  material  offering  whereby  we 
profess  our  dependence,  and  which,  in  a  few  instants, 
is  to  yield  its  place  to  the  living  Host,  upon  whom 
all  our  iniquities  are  to  be  laid. 


Vouchsafe,  O  God,  to  ac- 
cept this  offering  which  this 
thy  assembled  family  presents 
to  thee  as  the  homage  of  its 
most  happy  servitude.  In 
return,  give  us  peace,  save  us 
from  thy  wrath,  and  number 
us  amongst  thy  elect,  through 
Him  who  is  coming  to  us, 
thy  Son  our  Saviour. 

Yea,  Lord,  this  is  the  mo- 
ment when  this  bread  is  to 
become  his  sacred  Body,  which 
is  our  food  ;  and  this  wine  is 
to  be  changed  into  his  Blood, 


Hanc  igitur  oblationem 
servitutis  nostrae,  sed  et 
cunctae  familiae  tuae,  quae- 
sumus  Domine,  ut  placatus 
accipias :  diesque  nostros  in 
tua  pace  disponas,  atque  ab 
aeterna  damnatione  nos  eripi, 
et  in  electorum  tuorum  ju- 
beas  grege  numerari.  Per 
Christum  Dominum  nostrum. 
Amen. 

Quam  oblationem  tu  Deus 
in  omnibus  quaesumus,  bene- 
dictam,  adscriptam,  ratam, 
rationabilem,  acceptabilem- 
que  f  acere  digneris  ;  ut  nobis 


84  ADVENT. 

Corpus  et  Sanguis  fiat  dilec-  which  is  our  drink.  Ah  !  de- 
tissimi  Filii  tui  Domini  nos-  lay  no  longer,  but  send  to  us 
tri  Jesu  Christi.  this  divine  Son  our  Saviour  ! 

And  here  the  Priest  ceases  to  act  as  man  ;  he  now 
becomes  more  than  a  mere  minister  of  the  Church. 
His  word  becomes  that  of  Jesus  Christ,  with  all  its 
power  and  efficacy.  Prostrate  yourself  in  profound 
adoration  ;  for  the  Emmanuel,  the  God  with  us,  is 
coming  down  from  heaven. 

Qui   pridie    qnam  patere-  What,  O  God   of  heaven 

tur,  accepit  panem  in  sane-  and   earth,    my    Jesus,    the 

tas    ac     venerabiles     manus  long  expected  Messias,  what 

suas  :    et    elevatis   oculis   in  else  can  I  do.  at  this  solemn 

ccelum,  ad  te  Deum  Patrem  moment    but  adore  thee,  in 

suum  omnipotentem,  tibi  gra-  silence,  as  my  sovereign  Mas- 

tias  agens,  benedixit,  fregit,  ter,  and  open  my  whole  heart 

deditque  discipulis  suis,  di-  to    thee,    as   to    its   dearest 

cens  :  Accipite,  et  manducate  King  !      Come,    then,   Lord 

ex  hoc  omnes.    Hoc  est  enim  Jesus  !  come  ! 
Corpus  metjm. 

The  Divine  Lamb  is  now  upon  our  altar.  Glory 
and  love  be  to  him  for  ever !  But  he  has  come  that 
he  may  be  immolated ;  for  which  reason  the  Priest, 
who  is  the  minister  of  the  will  of  the  Most  High, 
immediately  pronounces  over  the  chalice  those  sacred 
words  which  will  produce  the  great  mystical  immola- 
tion, by  the  separation  of  the  Victim's  Body  and 
Blood.  The  substances  of  the  bread  and  wine  have 
.jased  to  exist :  the  species  alone  are  left,  veiling,  as 
it  were,  the  Body  and  Blood,  lest  fear  should  keep 
us  from  a  mystery,  which  God  gives  us  in  order  to 
give  us  confidence.  Let  us  associate  ourselves  to 
the  Angels,  who  tremblingly  look  upon  this  deepest 
wonder. 

Simili  modo  postquam  cce-  O   Precious   Blood  !   thou 

natum  est,  accipiens  et  hunc  price  of  my   salvation  !     I 

prgeclarum  Calicem  in  sane-  adore  thee  !     Wash  away  my 

tas    ac    venerabiles     manus  sins,   and  give  me  a  purity 

suas  :  item  tibi  gratias  agens,  above  the  whiteness  of  snow, 

benedixit,  deditque  discipulis  Lamb   ever   slain,   yet  ever 


THE   ORDINARY   OF   THE  MASS, 


85 


living,  thou  comest  to  take  suis,  dicens  :  Accipite  et  bi- 

away  the  sins  of  the  world  !  bite  ex  eo  emnes.      Hie  est 

Come  also  and  reign  in  me  entm  Calix  Sanguinis  mei, 

by  thy  power  and  by  thy  novi  et  ^eterni  testamen- 

love.  ti  :  mysterium  fidei  :  qui 

PRO  VOBIS  ET  PRO  MULTIS 
EFFUNDETUR  IN  REMISSIO" 
NEM  PECCATORUM.    HseC  qilO- 

tiescumque  feceritis,  in  mei 
memoriam  facietis. 

The  Priest  is  now  face  to  face  with  God.  He 
again  raises  his  hands  towards  heaven,  and  tells  our 
heavenly  Father,  that  the  oblation,  now  on  the  altar, 
is  no  longer  an  earthly  offering,  but  the  Body  and 
Blood,  the  whole  Person,  of  his  divine  Son. 


Father  of  infinite  holiness, 
the  Host  so  long  expected  is 
here  before  thee  !  Behold 
this  thy  eternal  Son,  who 
suffered  a  bitter  passion,  rose 
again  with  glory  from  the 
grave,  and  ascended  trium- 
phantly into  heaven.  He  is 
thy  Son ;  but  he  is  also  our 
Host, — Host  pure  and  spot 
less, — our  Meat  and  Drink  of 
everlasting  life. 


Heretofore  thou  didst  ac- 
cept the  sacrifice  of  the  inno- 
cent lambs  offered  to  thee 
by  Abel ;  and  the  sacrifice 
which  Abraham  made  thee  of 
his  son  Isaac,  who,  though 
immolated,  yet  lived ;  and, 
lastly,  the  sacrifice,  which 
Melchisedech  presented  thee, 
of  bread  and  wine.  Eeceive 
our  Sacrifice,  which  is  above 
all  those  others.  It  is  the 
Lamb  of  whom  all  others 
could  be  but  figures  :  it  is 
the  undying  Victim :   it  is 


Unde  et  memores,  Bo- 
mine,  nos  servi  tui,  sed  et 
plebs  tua  sancta,  ejusdem 
Christi  Filii  tui  Domini  nos- 
tri  tarn  beatae  Passionis,  nec- 
non  et  ab  inferis  Resurrec- 
tionis,  sed  et  in  ccelos  glo- 
riosae  Ascensionis  :  offerimus 
praeclarae  majestati  tuae  de 
tuis  donis  ac  datis  Hostiam 
puram,  Hostiam  sanctam, 
Hostiam  immaculatam  :  Pa- 
nem  sanctum  vitae  aeternae,  et  ■ 
Calicem  saliitis  perpetuae. 

Supra  quae  propitio  ac 
sereno  vultu  respicere  dig- 
neris  :  et  accepta  habere, 
sicuti  accepta  habere  digna- 
tus  es  munera  pueri  tui  justi 
Abel,  et  sacrificium  Patri- 
archae  nostri  Abrahae,  et  quod 
tibi  obtulit  summus  Sacerdos 
tuus  Melchisedech,  sanctum 
sacrificium,  immaculatam 
hostiam. 


86 


ADVENT. 


the  Body  of  thy  Son,  who 
is  the  Bread  of  Life,  and 
his  Blood,  which,  whilst  a 
Drink  of  immortality  for  us, 
is  a  tribute  adequate  to  thy 
glory. 

The  Priest  bows  down  to  the  altar,  and  kisses  it 
as  the  throne  of  love  on  which  is  seated  the  Saviour 
of  men. 


Supplices  te  rogamus,  om- 
nipotens  Deus :  jube  hsec 
perferri  per  manus  sancti 
Angeli  tui  in  sublime  Altare 
tuum,  in  conspectu  divinas 
Majestatis  tuae  :  ut  quotquot 
ex  hac  altaris  participatione, 
sacrosanctumFiliitui  Corpus 
et  Sanguinem  sumpserimus, 
omni  benedictione  coelesti 
et  gratia  repleamur.  Per 
eumdem  Christum  Dominum 
nostrum.    Amen. 


But,  O  God  of  infinite 
power,  these  sacred  gifts  are 
not  only  on  this  altar  here 
below  ;  they  are  also  on  that 
sublime  Altar  of  heaven, 
which  is  before  the  throne  of 
thy  divine  Majesty.  These 
two  altars  are  but  one  and  the 
same,  on  which  is  accom- 
plished the  great  mystery  of 
thy  glory  and  our  salvation. 
Vouchsafe  to  make  us  par- 
takers of  the  Body  and  Blood 
of  the  august  Victim,  from 
whom  flow  every  grace  and 
blessing. 

Nor  is  the  moment  less  favourable  for  making  sup- 
plication for  the  Church  Suffering.  Let  us  therefore 
ask  the  divine  Liberator,  who  has  come  down  among 
us,  that  he  mercifully  visit,  by  a  ray  of  his  consoling 
light,  the  dark  abode  of  Purgatory,  and  permit  his 
Blood  to  flow,  as  a  stream  of  mercy's  dew,  from  this 
our  altar,  and  refresh  the  panting  captives  there. 
Let  us  pray  exjDressly  for  those  among  them,  who 
have  a  claim  on  our  suffrages. 


Memento  etiam,  Domine, 
famulorum  famularumque 
tuarum  N".  et  N.,  qui  nos 
praecesserunt  cum  signo  fidei, 
et  dormiunt  in  somno  pacis. 
Ipsis  Domine,  et  omnibus  in 
Christo  quiescentibus,  locum 
refrigerii,  lucis  et  pacis,  ut 


_  Dear  Jesus  !  let  the  hap- 
piness of  this  thy  visit  extend 
to  every  portion  of  thy 
Church.  Thy  face  gladdens 
the  elect  in  the  holy  City  : 
even  our  mortal  eyes  can  see 
beneath  the  veil  of  our  de- 
lighted faith  j  ah  !  hide  not 


THE   ORDINARY   OF  THE  MASS. 


87 


thyself  from  those  brethren    indulgeas,  deprecamur.     Per 

of  ours,  who  are  imprisoned  { eumdem  Christum  Dominum 

in  the   place  of    expiation,    nostrum.    Amen. 

Be  thou  refreshment  to  them 

in  their  flames,  light  in  their 

darkness,  and  peace  in  their 

agonies  of  torment. 

This  duty  of  charity  fulfilled,  let  us  pray  for  our- 
selves, sinners,  alas !  and  who  profit  so  little  by  the 
visit  which  our  Saviour  pays  us.  Let  us,  together 
with  the  Priest,  strike  our  breast,  saying : 


Alas  !  we  are  poor  sinners, 
O  God  of  all  sanctity !  yet 
do  we  hope  that  thy  infinite 
mercy  will  grant  us  to  share 
in  thy  kingdom,  not,  indeed, 
by  reason  of  our  works,  which 
deserve  little  more  than  pu- 
nishment, but  because  of  the 
merits  of  this  Sacrifice,  which 
we  are  offering  to  thee.  Re- 
member, too,  the  merits  of 
thy  holy  Apostles,  of  thy  holy 
Martyrs,  of  thy  holy  Virgins, 
and  of  all  thy  Saints.  Grant 
us,  by  their  intercession,  grace 
in  this  world,  and  glory  eter- 
nal in  the  next:  which  we  ask 
of  thee,  in  the  name  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son. 
It  is  by  him  thou  bestowest 
upon  us  thy  blessings  of  life 
and  sanctification  ;  and  by 
him  also,  with  him,  and  in 
him,  in  the  unity  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  may  honour  and  glory 
be  to  thee  ! 


Nobis  quoque  peccatoribus 
famulis  tuis,  de  multitudine 
miserationum  tuarum  speran- 
tibus,  partem  aliquam  et 
societatem  donare  digneris 
cum  tuis  Sanctis  Apostolis 
et  Martyribus  :  cum  Joanne, 
Stephano,  Matthia,  Barnaba, 
Ignatio,  Alexandra,  Marcel- 
lino,  Petro,  Felicitate,  Perpe- 
tua,  Agatha,  Lucia,  Agnete, 
Csecilia,  Anastasia,  et  omni- 
bus Sanctis  tuis ;  intra 
quorum  nos  consortium,  non 
sestimator  meriti,  sed  venise, 
qusesumus,  largitor  admitte. 
Per  Christum  Dominum 
nostrum.  Per  quern  haec 
omnia,  Domine,  semper  bona 
creas,  sanctificas,  vivificas, 
benedicis,  et  praestas  nobis  : 
per  ipsum,  et  cum  ipso  et  in 
ipso,  est  tibi  Deo  Patri  om- 
nipotent!, in  unitate  Spiritus 
Sancti,  omnis  honor  et  gloria. 


Whilst  saying  these  last  few  words,  the  Priest  has 
taken  up  the  sacred  Host,  which  was  on  the  altar; 
he  has  held  it  over  the  chalice,  thus  reuniting  the 
Body  and  Blood  of  the  divine  Victim,  in  order  to 
show  that  He  is  now  immortal.     Then  raising  up 


88  ADVENT. 

both  Chalice  and  Host,  he  offers  to  God  the  most 
noble  and  perfect  homage  which  the  divine  Majesty 
could  receive. 

This  solemn  and  mysterious  rite  ends  the  Canon. 
The  silence  of  the  Mysteries  is  broken.  The  Priest 
concludes  his  long  prayers,  by  saying  aloud,  and  so 
giving  the  faithful  the  opportunity  of  expressing  their 
desire  that  his  supplications  be  granted  : 

Per  omnia  saecula  saeculo-        For  ever  and  ever. 
rum. 

Answer  him  with  faith,  and  in  a  sentiment  of  union 
with  your  holy  Mother  the  Church : 

Amen.  Amen  !  I  believe  the  mys- 

tery which  has  just  been  ac- 
complished. I  unite  myself 
to  the  offering  which  has  been 
made,  and  to  the  petitions  of 
the  Church. 

It  is  time  to  recite  the  prayer,  which  our  Saviour 
himself  has  taught  us.  Let  it  ascend  up  to  heaven 
together  with  the  sacrifice  of  the  Body  and  Blood  of 
Jesus  Christ.  How  could  it  be  otherwise  than  heard, 
when  he  himself  who  made  it  for  us,  is  in  our  very 
hands  now  whilst  we  say  it  ?  As  this  prayer  belongs 
in  common  to  all  God's  children,  the  Priest  recites  it 
aloud,  and  begins  by  inviting  us  all  to  join  in  it. 

OREMUS.  LET   US   PRAY. 

_  Prasceptis  salutaribus  mo-  Having  been  taught  by  a 
niti,  et  divina  institutione  saving  precept,  and  following 
fonnati,  audemus  dicere  :  the  form  given  us  by  a  divine 

instruction,  we  thus  presume 

to  speak  : 

THE    LOKD'S   PRAYER. 

Pater    noster,   qui    es    in  Our    Father,    who    art  in 

ccelis  :   Sanctificetur  nomen  heaven,     hallowed    be    thy 

tuum  :      Adveniat     regnum  name  •  thy  kingdom  come  ; 

tuum  :      Fiat  voluntas   tua,  thy  will  be  done  on  earth,  as 

sicut  in   ccelo,   et  in  terra,  it  is  in  heaven.     Give  us  this 

Panem nostrum quotidianum  day  our  daily  Bread;  and 


THE   OKDINARY   OF  THE  MASS. 


89 


forgive  us  our  trespasses,  as 
we  forgive  them  that  trespass 
against  us  ;  and  lead  us  not 
into  temptation. 


cia  nobis  hodie  :  Et  dimitte 
nobis  debita  nostra,  sicut  et 
nos  dimittimus  debitoribus 
nostris.  Et  ne  nos  inducas 
in  tentationem. 


Let  us  answer,  with  deep  feeling  of  our  misery  : 
But  deliver  us  from  evil.  Sed  libera  nos  a  malo. 

The  Priest  falls  once  more  into  the  silence  of  the 
holy  Mysteries.  His  first  word  is  an  affectionate 
Amen  to  your  last  petition — deliver  us  from  evil — 
on  which  he  forms  his  own  next  prayer :  and  could 
he  pray  for  anything  more  needed  ?  Evil  surrounds 
us  everywhere,  and  the  Lamb  on  our  altar  has  been 
sent  to  expiate  it  and  deliver  us  from  it. 


How  many,  O  Lord,  are 
the  evils  which  beset  us  ! 
Evils  past,  which  are  the 
wounds  left  on  the  soul  by 
our  sins,  and  strengthen  her 
wicked  propensities.  Evils 
present,  that  is,  the  sins  now 
at  this  very  time  upon  our 
soul ;  the  weakness  of  this 
poor  soul ;  and  the  tempta- 
tions which  molest  her.  There 
are,  also,  future  evils,  that  is, 
the  chastisement  which  our 
sins  deserve  from  the  hand 
of  thy  justice.  In  presence 
of  this  Host  of  our  Salvation, 
we  beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  to 
deliver  us  from  all  these  evils, 
and  to  accept  in  our  favour 
the  intercession  of  Mary  the 
Mother  of  Jesus,  of  thy  holy 
Apostles  Peter  and  Paul  and 
Andrew.  Liberate  us,  break 
our  chains,  give  us  peace  : 
through  Jesus  Christ,  thy 
Son,  who  with  thee  liveth  and 
reigneth  God, 


Libera  nos,  qusesumus  Do- 
mine,  ab  omnibus  malis, 
prseteritis,  pnesentibus,  et 
futuris  :  et  intercedente  bea- 
ta  et  gioriosa  semper  Virgine 
Dei  Genitrice  Maria,  cum 
beatis  Apostolis  tuis  Petro  et 
Paulo,  atque  Andrea,  et  om- 
nibus Sanctis,  da  propitius 
pacem  in  diebus  nostris  :  ut 
ope  misericordise  tuae  adjuti, 
et  a  peccato  simus  semper 
liberi,  et  ab  omni  perturba- 
tionesecuri.  PereumdemDo- 
minum  nostrum  Jesum  Chri- 
tum  Filium  tuum,  qui  tecum 
vivit  et  regnat  in  unitate 
Spiritus  Sancti  Deus, 


90  ADVENT. 

The  Priest  is  anxious  to  announce  the  Peace  which 
he  has  asked  and  obtained;  he  therefore  finishes 
his  prayer  aloud,  saying  : 

Per  omnia  saecula  saeculo-        World  without  end. 
rum. 
1$.  Amen.  1$.  Amen. 

Then  he  says : 

Pax  Domini  sit  semper  May  the  Peace  of  our  Lord 
vobiscum.  be  ever  with  you. 

To  this  paternal  wish  reply  : 

]$.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo.  1$.  And  with  thy  spirit. 

The  Mystery  is  drawing  to  a  close  :  God  is  about 
to  be  united  with  man,  and  man  with  God,  by  means 
of  Communion.  But  first,  an  imposing  and  sublime 
rite  takes  place  at  the  altar.  So  far  the  Priest  has 
announced  the  Death  of  Jesus  ;  it  is  time  to  proclaim 
his  resurrection.  To  this  end,  he  reverently  breaks 
the  sacred  Host,  and  having  divided  it  into  three 
parts,  he  puts  one  into  the  Chalice,  thus  reuniting 
the  Body  and  Blood  of  the  immortal  Yictim.  Do 
you  adore,  and  say  : 

Hsec  commixtio  et  conse-  Glory  be  to  thee,  0  Saviour 
cratio  Corporis  et  Sanguinis  of  the  world,  who  didst,  in 
Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi  thy  Passion,  permit  thy  pre- 
fiat  accipientibus  nobis  in  cious  Blood  to  be  separated 
vitam  seternam.     Amen.  from  thy  sacred  Body,  after- 

wards   uniting   them    again 
together  by  the  divine  power. 

Offer  now  your  prayer  to  the  ever-living  Lamb, 
whom  St.  John  saw  on  the  Altar  of  Heaven  standing, 
though  slain :  say  to  this  your  Lord  and  King : 

Agnus  Dei,  qui  tollis  pec-  Lamb  of  God,  who  takest 
cata  mundi,  miserere  nobis.       away  the  sins  of  the  world, 

have  mercy  on  us. 
Agnus  Dei,  qui  tollis  pec-        Lamb  of  God,  who  takest 
cata  mundi,  miserere  nobis.      away  the  sins  of  the  world, 

have  mercy  on  us. 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS.        91 

Lamb  of  God,  who  takest  Agnus  Dei,  qui  tollis  pee- 
away  the  sins  of  the  world,  cata  mundi,  dona  nobis  pa- 
give  us  Peace.  cem. 

Peace  is  the  grand  object  of  our  Saviour's  coming 
into  the  world :  he  is  the  Prince  of  Peace.  The 
divine  Sacrament  of  the  Eucharist  ought  therefore 
to  be  the  Mystery  of  Peace,  and  the  bond  of  Catholic 
Unity,  for,  as  the  Apostle  says,  all  we  who  partake 
of  one  Bread,  are  all  one  Bread  and  one  Body.1  It 
is  on  this  account  that  the  Priest,  now  that  he  is  on 
the  point  of  receiving,  in  Communion,  the  Sacred 
Host,  prays  that  fraternal  Peace  may  be  preserved 
in  the  Church,  and  more  especially  in  this  portion  of 
it,  which  is  assembled  round  the  altar.  Pray  with 
him  and  for  the  same  blessing  : 

Lord    Jesus    Christ,   who        Domine  Jesu  Christe,  qui 

saidst  to  thy  Apostles,  "  my  dixisti  Apostolis  tuis :  Pacem 

peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  relinquo  vobis,  pacem  meam 

peace  I  give  unto  you  :"  re-  do  vobis  :  ne  respicias  pec- 

gard  not  my  sins,   but  the  cata  mea,  sed  fidem  Ecclesiae 

faith    of    thy    Church,    and  tuse  :  eamque  secundum  vo- 

grant    her    that    peace   and  luntatem  tuam  pacificare,  et 

unity  which  is  according  to  coadunare  digneris.     Qui  vi- 

thy    will.     Who   livest    and  vis  et  regnas  Deus,  per  omnia 

reignest    God  for   ever  and  ssecula  sseculorum.     Amen, 
ever.     Amen. 

If  it  be  a  High  Mass,  the  Priest  here  gives  the  kiss 
of  peace  to  the  Deacon,  who  gives  it  to  the  Sub-Deacon, 
and  he  to  the  Choir.  During  this  ceremony,  you 
should  excite  within  yourself  feelings  of  Christian 
charity,  and  pardon  your  enemies,  if  you  have  any. 
Then  continue  to  pray  with  the  Priest : 

Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Son  of  Domine  Jesu  Christe,  Fili 

the  living  God,who,according  Dei  vivi,    qui   ex  voluntate 

to  the   will   of  thy  Father,  Patris,    cooperante     Spiritu 

through  the  co-operation  of  Sancto,   per    mortem    tuam 

the  Holy  Ghost,  hast  by  thy  mundum   vivificasti  :   libera 

death  given  life  to  the  world ;  me   per    hoc    sacrosanctum 

1  I.  Cor.  x.  17. 


92 


ADVENT. 


deliver  me  by  this  thy  most 
Sacred  Body  and  Blood  from 
all  my  iniquities,  and  from 
all  evils  ;  and  make  me  al- 
ways adhere  to  thy  command- 
ments, and  never  suffer  me 
to  be  separated  from  thee, 
who  with  the  same  God  the 
Father  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
livest  and  reignest  God  for 
ever  and  ever.     Amen. 

If  you  are  going  to  Communion  at  this  Mass,  say 
the  following  Prayer;  otherwise,  prepare  yourself  to 
make  a  Spiritual  Communion  : 


Corpus  et  Sanguinem  tuum, 
ab  omnibus  iniquitatibus 
meis,  et  universis  malis,  et  f  ac 
me  tuis  semper  inhaerere 
mandatis,  et  a  te  nunquam 
separari  permittas.  Qui  cum 
eodem  Deo  Patre  et  Spiritu 
Sancto  vivis  et  regnas  Deus 
in  ssecula  sseculorum.  Amen. 


Let  not  the  participation  of 
thy  Body,  O  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  which  I,  though  un- 
worthy, presume  to  receive, 
turn  to  my  judgment  and 
condemnation ;  but  through 
thy  mercy  may  it  be  a  safe- 
guard and  remedy  both  to  my 
soul  and  body.  Who  with  God 
the  Father,  in  the  unity  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  livest  and 
reignest    God  for   ever  and 


Perceptio  Corporis  tui, 
Domine  Jesu  Christe,  quod 
ego  indignus  sumere  prae- 
sumo,  non  mihi  proveniat 
in  judicium  et  condemna- 
tionem  :  sed  pro  tua  pietate 
prosit  mihi  ad  tutamentum 
mentis  et  corporis,  et  ad 
medelam  percipiendam.  Qui 
vivis  et  regnas  cum  Deo  Patre 
in  unitate  Spiritus  Sancti 
Deus,  per  omnia  saecula  sse- 
culorum.    Amen. 


ever.     Amen. 

When  the  Priest  takes  the  Host  into  his  hands,  in 
order  to  his  receiving  it  in  Communion,  say : 

Come,  my  dear  Jesus,  Panem  ccelestem  accipiam, 
come  !  ,  et  nomen  Domini  invocabo. 

When  he  strikes  his  breast,  confessing  his  unwor- 
thiness,  say  thrice  with  him  these  words,  and  in  the 
same  disposition  as  the  Centurion  of  the  Gospel,  who 
first  used  them : 


Domine,  non  sum  dignus, 
ut  intres  sub  tectum  meum  : 
sed  tantum  die  verbo,et  sana- 
bitur  anima  mea. 


Lord, I  am  not  worthy  thou 
shouldst  enter  under  my  roof ; 
say  it  only  with  one  word  of 
thine,  and  my  soul  will  be 
healed. 

Whilst  the  Priest  receives  the  sacred  Host,  if  you 
also  are  to  communicate,  adore  profoundly  your  God, 


THE    ORDINARY   OF  (THE   MASS.  93 

who  is  ready  to  take  up  his  abode  within  you,  and 
again  say  to  him  with  the  spouse  :  Come,  Lord  Jesus, 
come  ! 

But  should  you  not  be  going  to  receive  sacramen- 
tally,  make  a  Spiritual  Communion.  Adore  Jesus 
Christ  who  thus  visits  your  soul  by  his  grace,  and 
say  to  him : 

I  give  thee,  O  Jesus,  this  Corpus  Domini  nostri  Jesu 

heart    of    mine,    that    thou  Christi,     custodiat    animam 

mayest  dwell  in  it,  and  do  meam    in    vitam    seternam. 

with  me  what  thou  wilt.  Amen. 

Then  the  Priest  takes  the  Chalice  in  thanksgiving 
and  says : 

What  return  shall  I  make  Quid   retribuam    Domino 

to  the  Lord  for  all  he  hath  pro   omnibus,  quae  retribuit 

given  to  me  ?    I  will  take  the  mihi  1     Calicem  salutaris  ac- 

Chalice  of  salvation,  and  will  cipiam,  et  nomen  Domini  in- 

call  upon  the   name  of  the  vocabo.      Laudans  invocabo 

Lord.      Praising  I  will  call  Dominum,  etabinimicismeis 

upon  the  Lord,  and  I  shall  be  salvus  ero. 
saved  from  mine  enemies. 

But  if  you  are  to  make  a  Sacramental  Communion, 
you  should,  at  this  moment  of  the  Priest's  receiving 
the  precious  Blood,  again  adore  the  God  who  is 
coming  to  you,  and  keep  to  your  Canticle  :  Come, 
Lord  Jesus,  come ! 

If,  on  the  contrary,  you  are  going  to  communicate 
only  spiritually,  again  adore  your  divine  Master,  and 
say  to  him  : 

I  unite  myself  to  thee,  my  SanguisDomini  nostri  Jesu 

beloved  Jesus !  do  thou  unite  Christi     custodiat    animam 

thyself  to  me  !  and  never  let  meam    in    vitam    seternam. 

us  be  separated.  Amen. 

It  is  here  that  you  must  approach  to  the  altar,  if 
you  are  going  to  Communion.  The  dispositions 
suitable  for  Holy  Communion  during  this  season  of 
Advent  are  given  in  the  next  chapter,  page  97. 

The  Communion  being  finished,  and  whilst  the 
Priest  is  purifying  the  Chalice  the  first  time,  say : 


94  ADVENT. 

Quod  ore  sumpsimus,  Do-  Thou  hast  visited  me,  O 

mine,  pura  mente  capiamus :  God,  in  these  days  of  my  pil- 

et  de  munere  temporali  fiat  grimage  ;  give  me  grace  to 

nobis    remedium    sempiter-  treasure  up  the  fruits  of  this 

num.  visit  for  my  future  eternity. 

Whilst  the  Priest  is  purifying  the  Chalice  the 
second  time,  say : 

Corpus  tuum,  Domine,  Be  thou  for  ever  blessed,  O 
quod  sumpsi,  et  Sanguis  my  Saviour,  for  having  ad- 
quem  potavi,  adhaereat  vis-  mitted  me  to  the  sacred  mys- 
ceribus  meis  :  et  prsesta  ut  tery  of  thy  Body  and  Blood, 
in  me  non  remaneat  scelerum  May  my  heart  and  senses  pre- 
macula,  quern  pura  et  sancta  serve,  by  thy  grace,  the  purity 
refecerunt  Sacramenta.  Qui  which  thou  hast  imparted  to 
vivis  et  regnas  in  ssecula  sse-  them  ;  and  thus  fit  me  for 
culorum.     Amen.  that    glorious  light   of    thy 

Coming,  that  I  may  not  then 
be  confounded. 

The  Priest  having  read  the  Antiphon  called  the 
Communion,  which  is  the  first  part  of  his  Thanks- 
giving for  the  favour  just  received  from  God,  where- 
by he  has  renewed  his  divine  presence  among  us, — 
turns  to  the  people  with  the  usual  salutation ;  after 
which,  he  recites  the  Prayers,  called  the  Postcom- 
munion,  which  are  the  completion  of  the  Thanks- 
giving. You  will  join  him  here  also,  thanking  God 
for  the  unspeakable  gift  he  has  just  lavished  on  you, 
and  asking,  with  most  earnest  entreaty,  for  the 
coming  of  the  Messias,  who  will  accomplish  those 
august  mysteries,  of  which  the  Holy  Mass  is  the 
renewal ;  and  for  that  reason,  the  chief  support  of 
the  Christian  life. 

These  Prayers  having  been  recited,  the  Priest 
again  turns  to  the  people,  and,  full  of  joy  for  the  ini- 
mense  favour  he  and  they  have  been  receiving,  he 
says : 

Dominus  vobiscum.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 

Answer  him : 
Et  cum  spiritu  tuo.  And  with  thy  spirit. 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  T&E  MASS.        95 

Then,  if  it  be  a  Mass  of  a  Feast,  the  Deacon  (or 
the  Priest  himself,  if  it  be  not  a  High  Mass)  says 
these  words : 

Go,  the  Mass  is  finished.  Ite,  Missa  est. 

1£.  Thanks  be  to  God.  I£.  Deo  gratias. 

But  if  it  be  a  Mass  proper  to  Advent,  he  does  not 
dismiss  the  faithful,  because,  in  this  holy  season,  it 
behoves  us  to  increase  our  prayers ;  he  therefore 
says: 

"fT.  Let  us  bless  the  Lord.  ft.  Benedicamus  Domino. 

1$.  Thanks  be  to  God.  1$.  Deo  gratias. 

The  Priest  makes  a  last  prayer,  before  giving  you 
his  blessing  :  pray  with  him  : 

Eternal  thanks  be  to  thee,  Placeat  tibi,  sancta  Trini- 

O  adorable  Trinity,  for  the  tas,     obsequiuin     servitutis 

mercy  thou  hast  showed  to  meae,  quod  oculis  tuse  majes- 

me,  in  permitting  me  to  assist  tatis  indignus  obtuli,  tibi  sit 

at  this  divine  Sacrifice.    Par-  acceptable,  mihique,  et  om- 

don  me  the  negligence  and  nibus,  pro  quibusillud  obtuli, 

coldness  wherewith  I  have  sitte  miserante,  propitiabile. 

received  so  great  a  favour,  Per  Christum  Dominum  nos- 

and  deign    to    confirm  the  trum. 
Blessing,  which  thy  Minister 
is  about  to  give  me  in  thy 
Name. 

The  priest  raises  his  hand,  and  thus  blesses  you  : 

May  the  Almighty  God,  Benedicat  vos  omnipotens 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  Deus,  Pater,  et  Filius,  et 
bless  you  !  Spiritus  Sanctus. 

He  then  concludes  the  Mass  by  reading  the  first 
fourteen  verses  of  the  Gospel  according  to  St.  John, 
which  tell  us  of  the  eternity  of  the  Word,  and  of  the 
mercy  which  led  him  to  take  upon  himself  owe  flesh, 
and  to  divell  among  us.  Pray  that  you  may  be  of 
the  number  of  those,  who  will  receive  him,  when  he 
comes,  this  year,  into  the  midst  of  his  people. 


96 


ADVENT. 


Initium  sancti  Evangelii  se- 
cundum Joannem. 

Cap.  I. 
In  principio  erat  Verbum, 
et  Verbum  erat  apud  Deum, 
et  Deus  erat  Verbum.  Hoc 
erat  in  principio  apud  Deum. 
Omnia  per  ipsum  facta  sunt ; 
et  sine  ipso  factum  est  nihil. 
Quod  factum  est,  in  ipso  vita 
erat,  et  vita  erat  lux  homi- 
num:  et  lux  in  tenebris  lucet, 
et  tenebrse  earn  non  compre- 
henderunt.  Fuit  homo  mis- 
sus a  Deo,  cui  nomen  erat 
Joannes.  Hie  venit  in  testi- 
monium, ut  testimonium 
perhiberet  de  lumine,  ut 
omnes  erederent  per  ilium. 
Non  erat  ille  lux,  sed  ut 
testimonium  perhiberet  de 
lumine.  Erat  lux  vera,  quae 
illuminat  omnem  hominem 
venientem  in  hunc  mundum. 
In  mundo  erat,  et  mundus 
per  ipsum  f actus  est,  et  mun- 
dus eum  non  cognovit.  In 
propria  venit,  et  sui  eum 
non  receperunt.  Quotquot 
autem  receperunt  eum,  dedit 
eis  potestatem  filios  Dei  fieri, 
his,  qui  credunt  in  nomine 
ejus  :  qui  non  ex  sanguinibus, 
neque  ex  voluntate  carnis, 
neque  ex  voluntate  viri,  sed 
ex  Deo  nati  sunt.  Et  Ver- 
bum caro  factum  est,  et  habi- 
tavit  in  nobis  :  et  vidimus 
gloriam  ejus,  gloriam  quasi 
Unigeniti  a  Patre,  plenum 
gratise  et  veritatis. 


I£.  Deo  gratias. 


The  beginning  of  the  holy- 
Gospel  according  to  John. 

Ch.I. 
In  the  beginning  was  the 
Word,  and  the  Word  was 
with  God,  and  the  Word  was 
God.  The  same  was  in  the 
beginning  with  God.  All 
things  were  made  by  him, 
and  without  him  was  made 
nothing  that  was  made.  In 
him  was  life,  and  the  life  was 
the  light  of  men  ;  and  the 
light  shineth  in  darkness,  and 
the  darkness  did  not  compre- 
hend it.  There  was  a  man 
sent  from  God,  whose  name 
was  John.  This  man  came 
for  a  witness,  to  give  testi- 
mony of  the  light,  that  all 
men  might  believe  through 
him.  He  was  not  the  light, 
but  was  to  give  testimony  of 
the  light.  That  was  the  true 
light,  which  enlighteneth 
every  man  that  cometh  into 
this  world.  He  was  in  the 
world,  and  the  world  was 
made  by  him,  and  the  world 
knew  him  not.  He  came 
unto  his  own,  and  his  own 
received  him  not.  But  as 
many  as  received  him,  to  them 
he  gave  power  to  be  made  the 
sons  of  God  ;  to  them  that 
believe  in  his  name,  who  are 
born,  not  of  blood,  nor  of  the 
will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the 
will  of  man,  but  of  God. 
And  the  Word  was  made 
flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us ; 
and  we  saw  his  glory,  as  it 
were  the  glory  of  the  only- 
begotten  of  the  Father,  full 
of  grace  and  truth. 
1$.  Thanks  be  to  God. 


CHAPTER  THE  SIXTH. 

ON   HOLY  COMMUNION  DUEING  ADVENT. 

It  is  true,  that  everything  in  Advent  is  so  ar- 
ranged as  to  be  a  preparation  for  the  Coming  of 
the  Saviour  at  the  Feast  of  Christmas,  and  that  the 
spirit  of  the  faithful  should  be  one  of  earnest  expec- 
tation of  this  same  Saviour  :  and  yet,  such  is  the 
happy  lot  of  the  children  of  the  New  Law,  that  they 
can,  if  they  wish  it,  really,  and  at  once,  receive  this 
God  whom  the  Church  is  expecting ;  and  thus  this 
familiar  visit  of  Jesus  will  become  itself  one  of  the 
preparations  for  his  great  and  solemn  visit.  Let 
those,  then,  who  are  living  the  life  of  grace,  and  to 
whom  the  glorious  day  of  the  nativity  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  will  bring  an  increase  of  spiritual  life, 
not  omit  to  prepare,  by  Communion,  for  the  recep- 
tion they  intend  to  give  to  the  heavenly  Spouse  on 
the  sacred  night  of  his  Coming.  These  Communions 
will  be  interviews  with  their  divine  Lord,  giving  them 
confidence  and  love,  and  all  those  interior  disposi- 
tions wherewith  they  would  welcome  him  who  comes 
to  load  them  with  fresh  grace, — for  this  Jesus  is  full 
of  grace  and  truth. 

They  will  understand  this  better  by  reflecting  on 
the  sentiments  which  the  august  Mother  of  Jesus 
had  in  her  blessed  soul  during  the  time  which  pre- 
ceded the  divine  Birth.  This  Birth  is  to  be  an  event 
of  more  importance,  both  to  the  salvation  of  man- 
kind and  to  Mary's  own  glo^,  than  even  that  of  the 
first  accomplishment  of  the  Incarnation ;  for  the 
Word  was  made  Flesh  in  order  that  he  might  be 
born.  The  immense  happiness  of  holding  in  her 
arms  her  Son  and  her  God,  would  make  the  sacred 


98  ADVENT. 

hour  of  Jesus'  Birth  dearer  and  happier  to  Mary, 
than  even  that  in  which  she  was  overshadowed  by 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  received  from  him  the  divine 
fruit  of  her  womb.  During  those  nine  months,  when 
she  knew  that  her  Jesus  was  so  undividedly  hers, 
what  must  have  been  the  happiness  which  filled  her 
heart !  It  was  a  bliss  which  was  a  worthy  prepara- 
tion for  that  more  blissful  night  of  Bethlehem. 

Christians  !  your  Communions  during  Advent  are 
to  prepare  you  for  your  Christmas  joy,  by  giving  you 
something  of  the  delight  which  Mary  felt  before  the 
birth  of  Jesus.  When  you  are  in  the  House  of  God, 
preparing  by  recollection  and  prayer  for  receiving 
your  Saviour  in  Holy  Communion,  you  may  per- 
haps be  assisted  in  your  preparation  by  the  senti- 
ments and  affections  which  we  have  ventured  to  offer 


you  in  the  following  acts. 


BEFORE  COMMUNION. 

ACT   OF   FAITH. 

Knowing  that  thou  art  about  to  enter  under  my  roof,  O 
eternal  God,  Jesus  Son  of  the  Father,  I  have  need  of  all  my 
faith.  Yes,  it  is  thou  who  art  coming  to  me,  thou  who  didst 
enter  into  Mary's  virginal  womb,  making  it  the  sanctuary  of 
thy  Majesty.  Thou  didst  send  thine  angel  to  her,  and  she 
believed  bis  word,  when  he  said  :  Nothing  is  impossible  to 
God  ;  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  come  upon  thee,  and  the  power  of 
the  Most  High  shall  overshadow  thee.  She  believed,  and 
then  conceived  in  her  chaste  womb  Him  who  had  created 
her.  Thou  hast  not  sent  an  Angel  to  me,  O  my  Saviour, 
to  tell  me  thou  art  coming  into  my  heart.  Thou  hast 
spoken  thyself,  and  thou  hast  said  :  /  am  the  living  Bread, 
come  down  from  heaven:  he  that  eateth  my  flesh  and  drinketh 
my  blood,  abideth  in  me  and  I  in  him.  Thou  hast  willed 
that  these  words  of  thine,  spoken  so  many  hundred  years 
ago,  should  reach  me  by  thy  Church,  that  thus  I  might 
have  both  the  certainty  that  they  are  thine,  and  the  merit  of 
bowing  down  my  reason  to  the  deepest  of  mysteries.  I 
believe  then,  O  Jesus  !  Help  the  weakness  of  my  faith. 
Enable  me  to  submit,  as  Mary  did,  to  thy  infinite  wisdom  ; 
and  since  thou  desirest  to  enter  under  my  roof,  I  bow  down 


BEFORE   COMMUNION.  99 

my  whole  being  before  thee,  using  her  blessed  words  :  May 
it  be  done  to  me  according  to  thy  word  ;  for  how  dare  I,  who 
am  but  nothingness,  resist  thee,  who  art  all  wisdom  and 
power ! 

ACT  OF   HUMILITY. 

But,  O  my  Saviour,  when  thou  didst  choose  the  womb  of 
the  glorious  Virgin  for  thy  abode,  thou  hadst  but  to  leave 
one  heaven  for  another.  Thou  hadst  prepared  her,  from  her 
Conception,  with  every  grace  ;  and  she,  on  her  part,  had 
been  more  faithful  to  thee  than  all  Angels  and  men  together. 
Whereas,  my  heart  has  nothing  in  it,  which  can  induce  thee 
to  come  and  make  it  thy  dwelling.  How  many  times  has  it 
not  refused  thee  admittance,  when  thou  didst  stand  at  the 
door  asking  me  to  receive  thee  1  And  even  had  I  been 
always  faithful,  what  proportion  is  there  between  its  low- 
liness and  thy  infinite  greatness  ?  Elizabeth  humbled  her- 
self when  she  was  visited  by  Mary,  and  exclaimed,  How 
comes  such  cm  honour  to  me  ?  And  I  am  to  receive  a  visit, 
not  merely  of  the  Mother  of  God,  but  of  God  himself,  and 
in  such  an  intimate,  familiar  manner,  that  a  greater  union 
cannot  be.  Thou  sayest,  He  that  eateth  me,  abideth  in  me 
and  I  in  him  :  0  Son  of  God  !  thou  seekest,  then,  for  what 
is  lowest  and  poorest,  and  in  that  thy  heart  loves  to  dwell. 
I  am  overwhelmed  with  admiration  at  this  condescension  ; 
but  when  I  reflect  that  thou  art  going  to  show  it  to  me,  I 
can  do  nothing  but  sink  into  my  own  nothingness  and  there 
beseech  thee  to  show  me  more  and  more  clearly  that  I  am 
but  nothing ;  that  so,  when  thou  art  come  within  me,  my 
whole  being  may  proclaim  the  glory,  the  mercy,  the  power 
of  my  Jesus. 

ACT   OF   CONTRITION. 

Happy  me,  O  Jesus,  if  I  could  feel  that  this  my  nothing- 
ness was  the  only  obstacle  to  the  glorious  union  to  which 
thou  invitest  me  !  I  would  then  approach  to  thee,  after  the 
example  of  thy  Immaculate  Mother,  my  august  Queen,  and 
would  dare  to  partake  of  the  banquet  at  which  she  is  on  thy 
right  hand.  But  I  am  worse  than  nothing, — I  am  a  sinner  : 
and  surely  there  can  be  no  union  between  Infinite  Sanctity 
and  sin,  between  Light  and  darkness  !  I  have  been  thine 
enemy,  O  my  Redeemer  !  and  yet  thou  wishest  to  come  into 
my  heart,  with  the  sores  of  its  shame  and  wounds  barely 
closed  ;  and  thou  tellest  me,  that  thou,  who  couldst  delight 
to  dwell  in  Mary's  heart,  canst  find  pleasure  in  mine  !  Oh ! 
how  this  teaches  me  the  malice  of  my  sins,  since  they 
offended  a  God  so  generous,  so  wonderful  in  his  love  forme  ! 
In  these  few  moments,  which  precede  thy  descending  into 


100  ADVENT. 

the  midst  of  my  darkness  in  order  to  change  it  into  light, 
what  can  I  do  but  renew  my  sorrow  for  those  many  sins 
whereby  I  lost  thee,  as  also  for  those  whereby  I  grieved  thee 
without  losing  thy  grace  *?  Accept  this  my  contrition,  O 
my  Saviour  !  It  is  thus  that  I  would  prepare  thy  way  to 
my  heart,  by  removing  everything  which  is  in  opposition  to 
the  righteous  path  of  thy  holy  Law. 

ACT   OF   LOVE. 

For,  I  would  indeed  love  thee,  O  my  Saviour,  as  Mary 
loved  thee.  Art  thou  not  my  God,  as  thou  wast  hers  1  Nay, 
by  forgiving  me  my  sins,  hast  thou  not  showed  marks  of 
tenderness  to  me,  which  Mary  could  not  receive  1  I  love 
thee  then,  sweet  Jesus,  who  art  coming  into  me.  Most  wel- 
come visit,  which  is  to  increase  my  love  !  Thy  blessed  Mother 
had  lived,  up  to  the  very  moment  when  thou  didst  enter  her 
womb,  in  all  holiness  and  justice  ;  she  had  loved  thee  alone, 
and  as  no  other  had  loved  :  but  when  she  felt  thee  within 
her,  when  she  felt  that  now  thou  wast  one  and  the  same 
with  herself,  her  love  redoubled,  and  lost  all  sight  of  limit. 
May  it  be  so  with  my  heart,  when  thou  comest  into  it,  my 
God  and  my  all !  Yea,  come  quickly  ;  for  though  most  un- 
worthy of  thy  visit,  yet  am  I  forced  to  desire  it,  seeing  that 
thou  art  the  Bread  which  giveth  life  unto  the  ivorld,  and  our 
daily  Bread,  by  eating  which,  we  support  life  until  the  day 
of  our  eternity  arrives.  Come,  then,  my  Lord  Jesus  I  my 
heart  is  ready,  and  trusts  in  thee. 

And  thou,  O  Mary,  by  the  joy  thou  didst  experience  in 
containing  within  thyself  Him,  whom  heaven  and  earth 
could  not  contain,  help  me,  in  this  Communion,  to  have  my 
heart  pure  and  fervent. — Holy  Angels,  who  looked  with 
astonishment  and  awe  upon  this  simple  creature  carrying 
God  within  her,  have  pity  on  me,  that  poor  sinner,  whose 
heart,  so  lately  the  abode  of  Satan,  is  this  very  hour  to 
become  the  tabernacle  of  your  same  Sovereign  Lord. — All  ye 
Saints  of  heaven,  and  ye  especially  my  ever  faithful  Patrons, 
come  to  my  assistance  now  that  there  is  coming  down  to  me, 
a  sinful  mortal,  He  in  whom  ye  live  for  ever,  just  and 
immortal.     Amen. 

Id  order  to  make  your  Preparation  complete, 
follow,  with  a  lively  faith  and  attention,  all  the 
mysteries  of  the  Mass  at  which  you  are  to  receive 
Communion ;  using,  for  this  purpose,  the  method  we 
have  given  in  the  preceding  Chapter.  After  your 
Communion,  you  may  sometimes  make  your  Thanks- 
giving by  reciting  the  prayers  we  here  give. 


AFTER   COMMUNION.  101 


AFTER   COMMUNION. 

ACT  OF  ADOKATION. 

O  Sovereign  Majesty  of  God  !  thou  hast,  then,  mercifully 
deigned  to  come  down  to  me  !  This  favour,  which  thou 
didst  heretofore  grant  to  Mary,  has  been  given  to  me  too  ! 
Would  that  I,  during  these  happy  moments,  could  adore  thee 
as  profoundly  as  she  did  !  The  sentiment  of  her  lowliness 
and  un worthiness,  at  that  solemn  moment,  would  have  over- 
powered her,  had  not  thy  tender  love  for  her  supported  her 
to  bear  that  ineffable  union  of  the  Creator  with  his  creature. 
My  lowliness,  and,  still  more,  my  unworthiness,  are  of  a 
very  different  kind  from  hers  ;  and  yet  I  find  it  so  hard  to 
feel  them.  This  much  at  least  I  know,  that  in  order  thus  to 
come  to  me,  and  be  my  own  infinite  treasure,  thou  hast  had 
to  overcome  immense  obstacles.  What,  then,  shall  I  do  for 
thee,  that  is  worthy  of  thee  %  How  can  I  best  compensate 
thee  for  the  humiliation  thou  hast  thus  borne  out  of  love  for 
me?  I  can  but  adore  thee,  and  humble  myself  to  the  furthest 
depths  of  my  own  nothingness.  And  because  this  my  adora- 
tion is  not  worthy  of  thine  acceptance,  I  presume  to  offer  thee 
that  which  Mary  herself  offered  thee  the  first  moment  she 
became  Mother  of  God,  and  during  the  nine  months  thou 
wast  so  closely  united  with  her.  Thou  hast  given  me  her  to 
be  my  own  Mother ;  permit  me  to  make  this  use  of  her 
wealth,  which  she  loves  to  see  her  children  so  freely  giving 
to  thy  greater  glory. 

ACT   OF   THANKSGIVING. 

But  thy  Blessed  Mother,  0  Jesus,  was  not  satisfied  with 
adoring  thee  interiorly  ;  her  glad  heart  soon  gave  expression 
to  its  intense  gratitude.  She  saw  that  thou  hadst  preferred 
her  to  all  the  daughters  of  her  people,  nay,  to  all  generations 
both  past  and  to  come  ;  her  soul  therefore  thrilled  with  de- 
light, and  her  lips  could  scarce  give  utterance  to  her  im- 
mense joy.  He  that  is  mighty,  she  said,  hath  done  great 
things  in  me  ;  he  hath  regarded  the  lowliness  of  his  hand- 
maid ;  and  all  generations  shall  call  me  Blessed.  And  hast 
thou  not  favoured  me,  O  Jesus,  above  thousands  and  tens  of 
thousands,  in  giving  me  the  wonderful  gift  I  now  hold  with- 
in me  1    Thou  hast  made  me  live  after  the  accomplishment 


102  ADVENT. 

of  thine  Incarnation.  This  very  day,  how  many  pious  servants 
of  thine  have  not  had  given  to  them  what  I  have  received 
from  thee  \  I  possess  thee  here  within  me  ;  I  know  the 
worth  of  thy  Coming  ;  but  how  many  are  there  who  neither 
possess  thee,  nor  know  thee  1  Thou  hast  indeed  invited  all 
to  these  graces,  but  a  great  number  have  refused  them  ;  and 
while  thou  hast  compelled  me,  by  the  powerful  yet  sweet 
ways  of  thy  mercy,  to  come  to  thee,  thou  hast,  in  thy  justice, 
permitted  them  to  continue  in  their  refusal.  Mayest  thou 
be  for  ever  blessed,  0  my  God  !  who  lovest,  indeed,  all  the 
works  of  thy  hands,  and  wishest  all  men  to  be  saved  ;  so 
that  none  are  lost,  but  them  that  refuse  thy  grace  ; — yet,  in 
the  superabundant  riches  of  thy  mercy,  thou  dost  multiply, 
for  many,  the  boundless  resources  of  thy  love. 

ACT   OF   LOVE. 

I  will  love  thee,  then,  0  Jesus  !  because  thou  hast  first 
loved  me  ;  and  I  will  love  thee  the  more  because,  by  this  thy 
visit  to  me,  thou  hast  so  greatly  increased  my  power  to  love. 
It  was  thus  with  Mary,  when  thou  didst  choose  her  for  thy 
Mother.  Up  to  that  time  she  had  been  the  most  faithful  of 
thy  creatures,  and  deserved  the  preference  thou  didst  give 
her,  above  all  women,  of  being  honoured  with  the  high 
privilege  of  becoming  Mother  of  God.  But  when  thou  didst 
enter  her  virginal  womb,  when  thy  divine  Person  came  into 
that  admirable  contact  with  her  nature,  which,  though  holy, 
was  human  ;  Mary,  transformed,  as  it  were,  into  thee,  began 
to  love  thee  as  she  had  never  been  able  to  do  before.  May 
it  be  so  with  me,  dear  Jesus  !  May  my  own  life  be  lost  in 
thine  !  Is  not  the  visit  thou  hast  paid  me  that  of  a  God ! 
The  visits  of  creatures  are  but  exterior  ;  thine  to  me  is  in- 
terior ;  thou  hast  not  entered  my  house  and  blessed  it,  thou 
hast  penetrated  into  the  deepest  recesses  of  my  very  soul ;  so 
that  /  live,  no,  it  is  not  1,  but  thou  livest  in  me,  as  thy  Apostle 
expresses  the  mystery.  So  that  if  I  love  myself,  I  must  love 
thee,  since  thou  abidest  in  me  and  I  abide  in  thee.  Can  I 
ever  separate  from  thee  again  %  No,  my  Divine  Master,  I' 
desire  to  have  but  thee  for  my  love  and  my  very  life,  now 
and  for  ever. 

ACT   OF   OBLATION. 

But,  take  heed,  my  soul — let  not  thy  love  of  thy  God  be 
mere  sentiment.  He  that  loves  God,  lives  for  him.  Jesus' 
presence  produced  in  Mary,  the  moment  it  was  effected,  far 
more  than  the  sentiment  of  total  devotedness  of  herself  to 
the  interests  and  glory  of  him  who  was  both  her  God  and  her 


AFTER   COMMUNION.  103 

Son.  It  gave  her  a  conformity  to  all  God's  appointments, 
which  stood  unshaken,  without  one  moment  of  faltering, 
through  all  the  trials  of  her  long  life.  Thou  hast  visited  me, 
dear  Saviour,  and  courage  is  what  thou  wishest  to  leave  with 
me.  Between  this  day  and  that  of  my  death  and  my  judg- 
ment, I  am  to  go  through  many  trials  and  temptations,  all 
difficult,  and  some  of  them  perhaps  severe.  If  I  love  thee, 
I  shall  triumph  over  them  all.  And  how  can  I  but  love  thee, 
even  at  the  bar  3  remembrance  of  this  thy  visit  to  me,  which 
thou  art  ready  to  repeat  as  often  as  I  wish  it !  I  am  thine, 
O  God  of  my  heart,  as  thou  art  mine.  Thou  knowest  my 
great  weakness  :  give  me  courage  and  strength.  Thou  hast 
given  me,  this  happy  hour,  the  richest  pledge  of  thy  mercy; 
on  this  infinite  mercy  I  rest  all  my  hope. 

O  Mary,  pray  for  me  that  I  may  profit  by  this  visit  of  thy 
Divine  Son. — Ye  holy  Angels  of  God,  defend  me  against  my 
enemies,  for  your  Lord  has  made  me  his  dwelling-place. — 
All  ye  Saints  of  God,  pray  for  me,  that  I  may  never  lose  this 
Sovereign  Good,  with  whom  ye  are  united  for  a  happy 
eternity.     Amen. 


CHAPTER  THE  SEVENTH. 

ON   THE   OFFICE   OF   SUNDAY'S   VESPERS; 
DURING  ADVENT. 

The  limits,  which  necessity  requires  us  to  put  to 
this  volume,  will  not  admit  of  our  inserting  any  of 
the  day  Office  beyond  the  Vespers  and  Compline,  andr 
moreover,  the  faithful  rarely  assist  at  any  other  of 
the  Canonical  Hours,  during  this  part  of  the  Litur- 
gical Year.  We  add  to  each  of  them  a  brief  expla- 
nation. 

The  Office  of  Vespers,  or  Even  Song,  consists  firstly 
of  five  Psalms  with  their  Antiphons.  The  Antiphons 
of  each  Sunday  are  given  further  on,  in  the  Proper 
of  the  Time. 

It  commences  with  the  supplication,  which  the 
Church  makes  to  God  at  the  beginning  of  all  her 
Hours : 

1?.  Deus,  in  adjutorium  $".  Incline  unto  my  aid,  O 
meum  intende.  God. 

1$.  Domine,  ad  adjuvan-  I£.  0  Lord,  make  haste  to 
dum  me  festina.  help  me. 

Gloria  Patri,  et  Filio,  et  Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and 
Spiritui  Sancto  :  to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy 

Ghost: 

Sicut  erat  in  principio  et  As  it  was  in  the  beginning, 
nunc  et  semper,  et  in  ssecula  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be, 
sseculorum.  Amen.  Alleluia,     world  without  end.     Amen. 

Alleluia. 

The  first  Psalm  is  a  prophecy  of  the  glory  of  the 
Messias.  Let  us,  during  this  season,  the  more  ear- 
nestly proclaim  the  greatness  of  the  Incarnate  Word, 


SUNDAY  S  VESPERS. 


105 


the  more  we  see  him  humbled,  out  of  love  for  us, 
during  these  days  which  precede  his  divine  Birth. 

PSALM   109. 


The  Lord  said  to  my  Lord, 
his  son  :  Sit  thou  at  my  right 
hand,  and  reign  with  me. 

Until,  on  the  day  of  thy 
last  coming,  I  make  thy  ene- 
mies thy  footstool. 

0  Christ !  the  Lord  thy 
Father  will  send  forth  the 
sceptre  of  thy  power  out  of 
Sion  :  from  thence  rule  thou 
in  the  midst  of  thy  enemies. 

With  thee  is  the  principality 
in  the  day  of  thy  strength,  in 
the  brightness  of  the  saints  : 
for  the  Father  hath  said  to 
thee  :  From  the  womb  before 
the  day-star  I  begot  thee. 

The  Lord  hath  sworn,  and 
he  will  not  repent  :  he  hath 
said,speaking  of  thee,  the  God- 
Man  :  Thou  art  a  Priest  for 
ever,  according  to  the  order 
of  Melchisedech. 

Therefore,  0  Father,  the 
Lord  thy  Son  is  at  thy  right 
hand  :  he  hath  broken  kings 
in  the  day  of  his  wrath. 

He  shall  also  judge  among 
nations ;  in  that  terrible 
coming,  he  shall  fill  the  ruins 
of  the  ivorld ;  he  shall  crush 
the  heads  in  the  land  of  many. 

He  cometh  now  in  humility; 
he  shall  drink,  in  the  way,  of 
the  torrent  of  sufferings: 
therefore  shall  he  lift  up  the 
head. 


Dixit  Domiims  Domino 
meo  :*  Sede  a  dextris  meis. 

Donee  ponam  inimicos 
tuos  :  *  scabellum  pedum 
tuorum. 

Virgam  virtutis  tuse  emit- 
tet  Dominus  ex  Sion  :*  do- 
minare  in  medio  inimicorum 
tuorum. 

Tecum  principium  in  die 
virtutis  tuse  in  splendoribus 
sanctorum  :  *  ex  utero  ante 
luciferum  genui  te. 


Juravit  Dominus,  et  non 
pcenitebit  eum  :  *  Tu  es  Sa: 
cerdos  in  aeternum  secundum 
ordinem  Melchisedech. 


.  Dominus  a  dextris  tuis  :  * 
con f regit  in  die  irae  suae  re- 
ges. 

Judicabit  in  nationibus, 
implebit  ruinas  :  *  conquas- 
sabit  capita  in  terra  multo- 
rum. 

De  torrente  in  via  bibet  :* 
propterea  exaltabit  caput. 


The  following  Psalm  commemorates  the  mercies 
of  God  to  his  people,  the  promised  Covenant,  the 
Redemption,  his  fidelity  to  his  promises. 


106 


ADVENT. 


PSALM    110. 


Confitebor  tibi,  Domine, 
in  toto  corde  meo  :  *  in  con- 
cilio  justorum  et  congrega- 
tione. 

Magna  opera  Domini  :  * 
exquisita  in  onines  volunta- 
tes  ejus. 

Confessio  et  magnificentia 
opus  ejus:*  et  justitia  ejus 
manet  in  sseculuin  sseculi. 

Memoriam  fecit  mirabi- 
lium  suorum,  misericors  et 
miserator  Dominus  :  *  escam 
dedit  timentibus  se. 


Memor  erit  in  sseculum 
testamenti  sui  :  *  virtutem 
operum  suorum  annuntiabit 
populo  suo. 

Ut  det  illis  haereditatem 
Gentium  :  *  opera  manuum 
ejus  Veritas  et  judicium. 


Fidelia  omnia  mandata 
ejus,  confirmata  in  sseculuni 
saeculi  :  *  facta  in  veritate  et 
aequitate. 

Redemptionem  misit  populo 
suo  :  *  man  davit  in  seternum 
testamentum  suum. 


Sanctum  etterribilenomen 
ejus :  *  initium  sapientiae 
timor  Domini. 

Intellectus  bonus  omnibus 
facientibus  eum  :  *  laudatio 
ejus  manet  in  saeculum  sae- 
culi. 


I  will  praise  thee,  O  Lord, 
with  my  whole  heart  :  in  the 
counsel  of  the  just,  and  in 
the  congregation. 

Great  are  the  works  of  the 
Lord  :  sought  out  according 
to  all  his  wills. 

His  work  is  praise  and 
magnificence  :  and  his  justice 
continueth  for  ever  and  ever. 

He  hath  made  a  remem- 
brance of  his  wonderful 
works,  being  a  merciful  and 
gracious  Lord  :  and  being  the 
Bread  of  life,  he  hath  given 
food  to  them  that  fear  him. 

He  will  be  mindful  for 
ever  of  his  covenant  with 
men:  he  ivill  come  and  will 
show  forth  to  his  people  the 
power  of  his  works. 

That  he  may  give  them, 
his  Church,  the  inheritance 
of  the  Gentiles  :  the  works  of 
his  hand  are  truth  and  judg- 
ment. 

All  his  commandments  are 
faithful,  confirmed  for  ever 
and  ever  :  made  in  truth  and 
equity. 

He  hath  sent  Redemption 
to  his  people,  and  this  Re- 
deemer will  soon  appear :  he 
hath,  thereby,  commanded  his 
covenant  for  ever. 

Holy  and  terrible  is  his 
name  :  the  fear  of  the  Lord 
is  the  beginning  of  wisdom. 

A  good  understanding  to 
all  that  do  it :  his  praise  con- 
tinueth for  ever  and  ever. 


The  third  Psalm  sings  the  happiness  of  the  just 
man,  and  his  hopes  on  the  day  of  our  Lord's  second 


SUNDAY  S  VESPERS. 


107 


Coming.     It  also  tells  us  what  will  be  the  confusion 
of  the  sinner,  on  that  terrible  day. 

PSALM   111. 

Blessed  is  the  man  that 
feareth  the  Lord  :  he  shall 
delight  exceedingly  in  his 
commandments. 

His  seed  shall  be  mighty 
upon  earth:  the  generation  of 
the  righteous  shall  be  blessed. 

Glory  and  wealth  shall  be 
in  his  house  :  and  his  justice 
remaineth  for  ever  and  ever. 

To  the  righteous  a  light  is 
risen  up  in  darkness  :  he  is 
merciful,  and  compassionate, 
and  just. 

Acceptable  is  the  man  that 
showeth  mercy  and  lendeth  ; 
he  shall  order  his  words  with 
judgment  :  because  he  shall 
not  be  moved  for  ever. 

The  just  shall  be  in  ever- 
lasting remembrance  :  he  shall 
not  fear  the  evil  hearing. 

His  heart  is  ready  to  hope 
in  the  Lord ;  his  heart  is 
strengthened  :  he  shall  not 
be  moved  until  he  look  over 
his  enemies. 

He  hath  distributed,  he 
hath  given  to  the  poor ;  his 
justice  remaineth  for  ever 
and  ever  :  his  horn  shall  be 
exalted  in  glory. 

The  wicked  shall  see,  and 
shall  be  angry  :  he  shall 
gnash  with  his  teeth,  and 
pine  away  :  the  desire  of  the 
wicked  shall  perish. 

The  fourth  Psalm  is  a  Canticle  of  praise  to  the 
Lord,  who,  from  his  high  heaven,  has  taken  pity  on 
the  fallen  human  race,  and  raised  it  up  again  by  the 
Incarnation. 


Beatus  vir,  qui  timet  Do- 
minum  :  *  in  mandatis  ejus 
volet  nimis. 

Potens  in  terra  erit  semen 
ejus  :  *  generatio  rectorum 
benedicetur. 

Gloria,  et  divitias  in  domo 
ejus  :  *  et  justitia  ejus  manet 
in  saeculuni  saeculi. 

Exortum  est  in  tenebris 
lumen  rectis  :  *  misericors,  et 
miserator,  et  Justus. 

Jucundus  homo,  qui  mise- 
retur  et  commodat,  disponet 
sermones  suos  in  judicio  :  * 
quia  in  seternum  non  com- 
movebitur. 

In  memoria  seterna  erit 
Justus  :*  ab  auditione  mala 
non  timebit. 

Paratum  cor  ejus  sperare 
in  Domino,  confirmatum  est 
cor  ejus  :  *  non  commovebi- 
tur  donee  despiciat  inimicos 
suos. 

Dispersit,  dedit  pauperi- 
bus,  justitia  ejus  manet  in 
sseculum  saeculi :  *  cornu  ejus 
exaltabitur  in  gloria. 

Peccator  videbit,  et  irasce- 
tur,  dentibus  suis,  fremet  et 
tabescet :  *  desiderium  pec- 
catorum  peribit. 


108 


ADVENT. 


PSALM    112. 


Laudate,  pueri,  Dominum : 
*  laudate  nomen  Domini. 

Sit  nomen  Domini  bene- 
dictum:  *  ex  hoc  nunc  et 
usque  in  saeculum. 

A  solis  ortu  usque  ad  oc- 
casum  :  *  laudabiie  nomen 
Domini. 

Excelsus  super  omnes 
Gentes  Dominus :  *  et  super 
ccelos  gloria  ejus. 

Quis  sicut  Dominus  Deus 
noster  qui  in  altis  habitat  :* 
et  humilia  respicit  in  coelo 
et  in  terra  % 

Suscitans  a  terra  inopem  :* 
et  de  stercore  erigens  paupe- 
rem. 

Ut  collocet  eum  cum  prin- 
cipibus  :  *  cum  principibus 
populi  sui. 

Qui  habitare  facit  sterilem 
in  domo  :  *  matrem  filiorum 
laetantem. 


Praise  the  Lord,  ye  chil- 
dren :  praise  ye  the  name  of 
the  Lord. 

Blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord  :  from  henceforth  now 
and  for  ever. 

From  the  rising  of  the  sun 
unto  the  going  down  of  the 
same,  the  name  of  the  Lord 
is  worthy  of  praise. 

The  Lord  is  high  above  all 
nations  :  and  his  glory  above 
the  heavens. 

Who  is  as  the  Lord  our 
God,  who  dwelleth  on  high  : 
and  looketh  down  on  the  low 
things  in  heaven  and  in 
earth  %  _ 

Raising  up  the  needy  from 
the  earth  :  and  lifting  up  the 
poor  out  of  the  dunghill. 

That  he  may  place  him 
with  princes:  with  the  princes 
of  his  people. 

Who  maketh  a  barren  wo- 
man to  dwell  in  a  house,  the 


joyful  mother  of  children. 
The  fifth  Psalm  recalls  the  memory  of  the  pro- 
digies done  under  the  ancient  Covenant ;  this  will 
naturally  awaken  within  us  the  hope  of  seeing  those 
things,  which  happened  to  the  people  of  Israel  in 
figure,  realised  at  the  coming  of  the  Messias. 

PSALM   113. 


In  exitu  Israel  de  iEgypto: 
*  domus  Jacob  de  populo 
barbaro. 

Facta  est  Judaea  sanctifi- 
catio  ejus  :  *  Israel  potestas 
ejus. 

Mare  vidit,  et  fugit :  *  Jor- 
danis  conversus  est  retror- 
sum. 


When  Israel  went  out  of 
Egypt,  the  house  of  Jacob 
from  a  barbarous  people. 

Judea  was  made  his  sanc- 
tuary :  Israel  his  dominion. 

The  sea  saw  and  fled  :  Jor- 
dan was  turned  back. 


SUNDAY'S  VESPERS. 


109 


The  mountains  skipped 
like  rams  :  and  the  hills  like 
the  lambs  of  the  flock. 

What  ailed  thee,  O  thou 
sea,  that  thou  didst  flee  :  and 
thou,  O  Jordan,  that  thou 
wast  turned  back  % 

Ye  mountains  that  ye 
skipped  like  rams  :  and  ye 
hills  like  lambs  of  the  flock  1 

At  the  presence  of  the  Lord 
the  earth  was  moved,  at  the 
presence  of  the  God  of  Jacob. 

Who  turned  the  rock  into 
pools  of  water,  and  the  stony 
hill  into  fountains  of  waters. 

Not  to  us,  O  Lord,  not  to 
us  :  but  to  thy  name  give 
glory. 

For  thy  mercy,  and  for  thy 
truth's  sake :  lest  the  Gen- 
tiles should  say  :  Where  is 
their  God  ? 

But  our  God  is  in  heaven ; 
he  hath  done  all  things  what- 
soever he  would. 

The  idols  of  the  Gentiles 
are  silver  and  gold:  the  works  , 
of  the  hands  of  men. 

They  have  mouths,  and 
speak  not :  they  have  eyes, 
and  see  not. 

They  have  ears,  and  hear 
not  :  they  have  noses,  and 
smell  not. 

They  have  hands,  and  feel 
not :  they  have  feet,  and  walk 
not :  neither  shall  they  cry 
out  through  their  throat. 

Let  them  that  make  them 
become  like  unto  them  :  and 
all  such  as  trust  in  them. 

The  house  of  Israel  hath 
hoped  in  the  Lord  :  he  is 
their  helper  and  their  pro- 
tector. 

The  house  of  Aaron  hath 


Montes  exsultaverunt  ut 
arietes  :  *  et  colles  sicut  agni 
ovium. 

Quid  est  tibi,  mare,  quod 
fugisti :  *  et  tu,  Jordanis, 
quia  conversus  es  retrorsum  1 

Montes  exsultastis  sicut 
arietes  :  *  et  colles  sicut  agni 
ovium  1 

A  facie  Domini  mota  est 
terra  :  *  a  facie  Dei  Jacob. 

Qui  convertit  petram  in 
stagna  aquarum  :  *  et  rupem 
in  fontes  aquarum. 

Non  nobis,  Domine,  non 
nobis  :  *  sed  nomini  tuo  da 
gloriam. 

Super  misericordia  tua,  et 
veritate  tua  :  *  nequando  di- 
cant  Gentes  :  Ubi  est  Dens 
eorum  % 

Deus  autem  noster  in  coelo: 
*  omnia  qusecumque  voluit, 
fecit. 

Simulacra  Gentium  argen- 
tum  et  aurum :  *  opera  ma- 
nuum  hominum. 

Os  habent,  et  non  loquen- 
tur  :  *  oculos  habent,  et  non 
videbunt. 

Aures  habent,  et  non  au- 
dient  :  *  nares  habent,  et  non 
odorabunt. 

Manus  habent,  et  non  pal- 
pabunt,  pedes  habent  et  non 
ambulabunt :  *  non  clama- 
bunt  in  gutture  suo. 

Similes  illis  fiant  qui  fa- 
ciunt  ea  :  *  et  omnes  qui  con- 
fidunt  in  eis. 

Domus  Israel  speravit  in 
Domino  :  *  adjutor  eorum  et 
protector  eorum  est. 

Domus  Aaron  speravit  in 


110 


ADVENT. 


Domino  :  *  adjutor  eorum,  et 
protector  eorum  est. 

Qui  timent  Dominum,  spe- 
raverunt  in  Domino  :  *  adju- 
tor eorum,  et  protector  eorum 
est. 

Dominus  memor  fuit  nos- 
tri :  *  et  benedixit  nobis. 

Benedixit  domui  Israel  :  * 
benedixit  domui  Aaron. 

Benedixit  omnibus  qui  ti- 
ment Dominum  :  *  pusillis 
cum  majoribus. 

Adjiciat  Dominus  super 
vos  :  *  super  vos,  et  super 
filios  vestros. 

Benedicti  vos  a  Domino :  * 
qui  fecit  ccelum  et  terrain. 

Caelum  coeli  Domino:  *  ter- 
rain autem  dedit  filiis  homi- 
num. 

Non  mortui  laudabunt  te, 
Domine  :  *  neque  omnes  qui 
descendunt  in  inferum. 

Sed  nos  qui  vivimus,  bene- 
dicimus  Domino  :  *  ex  hoc 
nunc  et  usque  in  sasculum. 


hoped  in  the  Lord:  he  is  their 
helper  and  their  protector. 

They  that  fear  the  Lord 
have  hoped  in  the  Lord  :  he 
is  their  helper  and  their  pro- 
tector. 

The  Lord  hath  been  mind- 
ful of  us,  and  hath  blessed 
us. 

He  hath  blessed  the  house 
of  Israel :  he  hath  blessed  the 
house  of  Aaron. 

He  hath  blessed  all  that 
fear  the  Lord,  both  little  and 
great. 

May  the  Lord  add  blessings 
upon  you :  upon  you,  and 
upon  your  children. 

Blessed  be  you  of  the  Lord, 
who  made  heaven  and  earth. 

The  heaven  of  heaven  is 
the  Lord's  :  but  the  earth  he 
has  given  to  the  children  of 
men. 

The  dead  shall  not  praise 
thee,  O  Lord  :  nor  any  of 
them  that  go  down  to  hell. 

But  we  that  live  bless  the 
Lord  :  from  this  time  now 
and  for  ever. 


After  these  five  Psalms,  a  short  lesson  from  the 
holy  Scriptures  is  then  sung.  It  is  called  Capitidum, 
because  it  is  always  very  short.  It  will  be  found  in 
its  proper  place  for  each  Sunday.  Then  follows  the 
Hymn  : 

HYMN* 


Creator  alme  siderum, 
iEterna  lux  credentium, 


O  Jesus,  thou  kind  Creator 
of  the  heavens,  eternal  Light 


*  According  to  the  Monastic  Rite,  it  is  as  follows  : — 

R.  breve.   Ostende  nobis  Do-         V.   Et  salutare  tuum  da  no- 
mine, *    Misericordiam    tuam,      bis  :  *  Misericordiam. 
Ostende.  Gloria  Path,  &c.     Ostende. 


SUNDAY'S  VESPEKS. 


Ill 


of  believers,  and  Redeemer 
of  all  mankind,  hear  the 
prayers  of  thy  suppliants. 

Lest  the  world  should  per- 
ish by  the  fraud  of  the  devil, 
thou,  impelled  by  the  vehe- 
mence of  thy  love  for  us,  didst 
thyself  become  the  remedy  of 
all  our  weakness. 

To  expiate  the  sin  of  the 
whole  world,  thou  didst  come 
from  the  sanctuary  of  the 
Virgin's  womb,  a  victim  des- 
tined to  the  cross. 

How  glorious  is  thy  power, 
when,  at  the  very  sound  of  thy 
Name,  heaven  and  hell  bend 
their  trembling  knee  ! 

We  beseech  thee,  dread 
Judge  of  the  last  day,  defend 
us  from  our  enemies  by  the 
armour  of  thy  heavenly 
grace. 

Power,  honour,  praise,  and 
glory,  be  to  the  Father,  and 
to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy 


Jesu  Redemptor  omnium, 
Intende  votis  supplicum. 

Qui  claemonis   ne   fraudi- 
bus 
Periret  orbis,  impetu 
Amoris  actus,  languidi 
Mundi  medela  factus  es. 

Commune  qui  mundi  ne- 
fas 
Ut  expiares  ad  crucem, 
E  Virgin  is  sacrario 
Intacta  prodis  victim  a. 

Cujus  potestas  glorise 
Nomenque    quum    primum 

son  at, 
Et  coelites  et  inferi 
Tremente  curvantur  genu. 

Te  deprecamur,  ultima? 
Magnum  diei  judicem, 
Armis  supernse  gratia? 
Defende  nos  ab  hostibus. 

Virtus,  honor,  laus,  gloria, 
Deo  Patri,  cum  Filio, 
Sancto  simul  Paraclito 


Conditor  alme  siderum, 
Sterna  lux  credentium, 
Christe  Redemptor  omnium, 
Exaudi  preces  supplicum. 

Qui  condolens  interitu 
Mortis  perire  ssecumm, 
Salvasti  mundum  languidum, 
Donans  reis  remedium  : 

Vergeute  mundi  vespere  : 
Uti  sponsus  de  thalamo, 
Egressus  honestissima 
Virginia  matris  clausula  : 

Cujus  forti  potentiae 
Genu  curvantur  omnia, 
Ccelestia,  terrestria, 
Nutu  fatentur  subdita. 


Te  deprecamur,  agie, 
Venture  judex  sseeuli, 
Conserva  nos  in  tempore, 
Hostis  a  telo  perfidi. 

Laus,  honor,  virtus,  gloria, 
Deo  Patri,  et  Filio, 
Sancto  simul  Paraclito, 
In  sseculorum  saecula. 

Amen. 

[The  last  stanza  is  as  follovjs, 
on  the  Sunday  within  the  Octave 
of  the  Immaculate  Conception:] 

Gloria  tibi,  Domine, 
Qui  natus  es  de  Virgine, 
Cum  Patre,  et  Sancto  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  saecula. 

Amen. 


112  ADVENT. 

In  sseculoruin  ssecula.  Paraclete,     for     ever     and 

ever. 
Amen.  Amen. 

$.  Borate  coeli  desuper,  et        ^.  Drop    down    dew,    ye 
nubes  pluant  Justum.  heavens,  from  above,  and  let 

the  clouds  rain  the  Just  One. 
1$.  Aperiatur  terra,  et  ger-        B.  Let  the  earth  be  opened, 
minet  Salvatorem.  and  bud  forth  a  Saviour. 

Here  is  sung  the  Magnificat  Antiphon,  which  is 
given  in  the  Proper  of  each  Sunday.  After  this  the 
Church  alwaj^s  sings  at  Vespers,  the  Canticle  in 
which  our  Blessed  Lady,  all  full  of  the  God  whom 
she  had  within  her  womb,  gave  utterance,  in  the 
presence  of  St.  Elizabeth,  to  the  transports  of  her 
joy  and  gratitude.  This  Canticle  harmonises  most 
sweetly  with  the  spirit  of  Advent,  for  it  is  during  this 
very  time  that  Mary  is  almost  incessantly  before  our 
minds,  as  the  beautiful  Mother  that  bears  her  pre- 
cious and  divine  Fruit.  Let  us,  therefore,  unite  with 
her,  in  celebrating  the  matchless  honour  bestowed  on 
her  by  God ;  the  merits  of  that  profound  humility 
which  rendered  her  worthy  of  such  an  honour ;  the 
overthrow  of  the  proud  spirits  who  were  driven  from 
heaven  ;  and  the  exaltation  of  human  nature,  of  itself 
so  poor  and  miserable,  to  that  high  place  from  which 
Angels  fell. 

OUR  ladt's  canticle. 

(St  Luke,  i.) 

Magnificat  :   *  anima  mea  My  soul  doth  magnify  the 

Dominum  :  Lord  ; 

Et  exsultavit  spiritus  me-  <   And  my  spirit  hath  rejoiced 

usr*  in  Deo  salutari  meo.  in  God  my  Saviour. 

Quia  respexit  humilitatem  Because  he  hath  regarded 

ancillag  suae  :  *  ecce  enim  ex  the  humility  of  his  handmaid: 

hoc  beatam  me  dicent  omnes  for,  behold,  from  henceforth 

generationes.  all  generations  shall  call  me 

blessed. 

Quia  fecit  milii  magna  qui  Because  he  that  is  mighty 

potens  est  :  *  et  sanctum  no-  hath  done  great  things  to  me : 

men  ejus.  and  holy  is  his  name. 


SUNDAY'S  VESPERS. 


113 


And  his  mercy  is  from  gen- 
eration unto  generation,  to 
them  that  fear  him. 

He  hath  showed  might  in 
his  arm  :  he  hath  scattered 
the  proud  in  the  conceit  of 
their  heart. 

He  hath  put  down  the 
mighty  from  their  seat :  and 
hath  exalted  the  humble. 

He  hath  filled  the  hungry 
with  good  things  :  and  the 
rich  he  hath  sent  empty  away. 

He  hath  received  Israel  his 
servant,  being  mindful  of  his 
mercy. 

As  he  spake  to  our  fathers, 
to  Abraham  and  to  his  seed 
for  ever. 


Et  misericordia  ejus  a  pro- 
genie  in  progenies  :  *  timen- 
tibus  eum. 

Fecit  potentiam  in  brachio 
suo  :  *  dispersit  superbos 
mente  cordis  sui. 

Deposuit  potentes  de  sede  : 

*  et  exaltavit  humiles. 

Esurientes  implevit  bonis  : 

*  et  divites  dimisit  inanes. 

Suscepit  Israel  puerum 
suum  :  *  recordatus  miseri- 
cordiae  suae. 

Sicut  locutus  est  ad  patres 
nostros  :  *  Abraham  et  se- 
mini  ejus  in  saecula. 


The 
each 


The  Magnificat  Antiphon  is  then  repeated. 
Prayer,  or   Collect,  is  given  in  the  Proper  of 
Sunday. 

The  Vespers  end  with  the  following  Ver sides : 

$".  Benedicamus  Domino.  $\  Let  us  bless  the  Lord. 

1$.  Deo  gratias.  I£.  Thanks  be  to  God. 

"P".  Fidelium    animae    per  $7  May  the  souls  of  the 

misericordiam   Dei   requies-  Faithful  departed,through  the 

cant  in  pace.  mercy  of  God,  rest  in  peace. 

1$.  Amen.  1$.  Amen. 


CHAPTER  THE  EIGHTH. 

ON     THE     OFFICE     OF     COMPLINE; 
DURING  ADVENT. 

This  Office,  which  concludes  the  day,  commences  by 
a  warning  of  the  dangers  of  the  night :  then  imme- 
diately follows  the  public  Confession  of  our  sins,  as 
a  powerful  means  of  propitiating  the  divine  justice, 
and  obtaining  God's  help,  now  that  we  are  going  to 
spend  so  many  hours  in  the  unconscious  and  there- 
fore dangerous  state  of  sleep,  which  is  also  such  an 
image  of  death. 

The  Lector,  addressing  the  Priest,  says  to  him : 

y.  Jube,  Doinine,  benedi-      Pray,  Father,  give  thy  bless- 
cere.  ing. 

The  Priest  answers : 

Noctem  quietam,  et  finem  May  the   Almighty  Lord 

perfectum     concedat     nobis  grant  us  a  quiet  night  and  a 

Dominus  omnipotens.  perfect  end. 

1$.  Amen.  1$.  Amen. 

The  Lector  then  reads  these  words,  from  the  first 
Epistle  of  St.  Peter : 

_  Fratres :    Sobrii  estote,  et  Brethren,    be    sober    and 

vigilate :     quia    adversarius  watch :    for  your   adversary 

vester  diabolus,  tamquam  leo  the  devil  goes  about  like  a 

rugiens  circuit  quasrens  quern  roaring  lion,  seeking  whom 

devoret :  cui  resistite  fortes  he  may  devour  :  resist  him, 

in  fide.     Tu  autem,  Domine,  being  strong  in  faith.     But 

miserere  nobis.  thou,  O  Lord,  have  mercy  on 

us. 


COMPLINE.  115 

The  Choir  answers : 

1$.  Thanks  be  to  God.  1$.  Deo  gratias. 

Then,  the  Priest  : 

ft.  Our  help  is  in  the  name  ft.  Adjutorium  nostrum  in 
of  the  Lord.  nomine  Domine. 

The  Choir : 

1$.  Who  hath  made  heaven  I£.  Qui  fecit  ccelum  et  ter- 
and  earth.  ram. 

Then  the  Lord's  Prayer  is  recited  in  secret ;  after 
which  the  Priest  says  the  Confiteor,  and,  when  he 
has  finished,  the  Choir  repeats  it. 

The  Priest,  having  pronounced  the  general  form 
of  absolution,  says  : 

ft.  Convert  us,  0  God  our  ft.  Converte    nos,     Deus, 

Saviour.  Salutaris  noster. 

^.  And  turn   away  thine  1$.  Et  averte  iram  tuam  a 

anger  from  us.  nobis. 

ft.  Incline   unto   my  aid,  ft,  Deus,    in    adjutorium 

O  God.  meum  intende. 

1^.  O  Lord,  make  haste  to  Ij&.  Domine,   ad    adjuvan- 

help  me.  dum  me  festina. 

Glory,  &c.  Gloria  Patri,  dtc. 

Ant.  Have  mercy.  Ant.  Miserere. 

The  first  Psalm  expresses  the  confidence  with 
which  the  just  man  sleeps  in  peace ;  but  the  wicked 
know  not  what  calm  rest  is.  It  also  speaks  of  the 
eternal  Word,  the  Light  of  the  Father,  who  is  coming 
to  dispel  our  darkness. 

PSALM   4. 

When  I  called  upon  him,  Cum  invocarem  exaudivit 

the  God-of  my  justice  heard  me  Deus  justitise  mese  :  *  in 

me  :  when  I  was  in  distress,  tribulatione  dilatasti  mihi. 
thou  hast  enlarged  me. 

Have  mercy  on  me  :  and  Miserere  mei :  *  et  exaudi 

hear  my  prayer.  orationem  meam. 


116 


ADVENT. 


Filii  hominum,  usquequo 
gravi  corde  1  *  ut  quid  dili- 
gitis  vanitatem,  et  quseritis 
mendacium  1 

Et  scitote  quoniani  mirifi- 
cavit  Dominus  sanctum 
suum  :  *  Dominus  exaudiet 
me,  cum  clamavero  ad  eum. 

Irascimini,  et  nolite  pec- 
care  :  *  quas  dicitisin  cordi- 
bus  vestris,  in  cubilibus  ves- 
tris  compungimini. 

Sacrificate  sacrificium  jus- 
titise,  et  sperate  in  Domino  :  * 
multi  dicunt  :  Quis  ostendit 
nobis  bona  ] 

Signatum  est  super  nos 
lumen  vultus  tui  Domine  :  * 
dedisti  laetitiam  in  corde  meo. 

A  fructu  frumenti,  vini  et 
olei  sui  :  *  multiplicati  sunt. 

In  pace  in  idipsum  :  *  dor- 
miani  et  requiescam. 

Quoniam  tu,  Domine,  sin- 
gulariter  in  spe :  constitu- 
isti  me. 


O  ye  sons  of  men,  how  long 
will  you  be  dull  of  heart] 
why  do  you  love  vanity,  and 
seek  after  lying  1 

Know  ye  also  that  the  Lord 
hath  made  his  Holy  One  won- 
derful :  the  Lord  will  hear 
me  when  I  shall  cry  unto 
him. 

Be  ye  angry,  and  sin  not : 
the  things  you  say  in  your 
hearts,  be  sorry  for  them 
upon  your  beds. 

Offer  up  the  sacrifice  of 
justice,  and  trust  in  the  Lord : 
many  say,  Who  showeth  us 
good  things  1 

The  Light  of  thy  counte- 
nance, OLord,  is  signed  upon 
us :  thou  hast  given  gladness 
in  my  heart. 

By  the  fruit  of  their  corn, 
their  wine,  and  oil,  they  are 
multiplied. 

In  peace,  in  the  self  same, 
I  will  sleep,  and  I  will  rest. 

For  thou,  O  Lord,  singu- 
larly hast  settled  me  in  hope. 


The  Church  has  introduced  here  the  six  first 
Verses  of  the  thirtieth  Psalui,  because  they  contain 
the  prayer  which  our  Saviour  made  when  dying: 
Into  thy  hands,  0  Lord,  I  commend  my  spirit! 
words  so  beautifully  appropriate  in  this  Office  of  the 
close  of  day.  During  Advent,  the  Church  lays  par- 
ticular stress  on  those  verses  of  this  Psalm,  in  which 
David  invokes  him  who  is  the  Deliverer   and   Sa- 


viour, 


PSALM   30. 


In  te,  Domine,  speravi,  non 
confundar  in  seternurn  :  *  in 
justitia  tua  libera  me. 


In  thee,  0  Lord,  have  I 
hoped,  let  me  never  be  con- 
founded :  deliver  me  in  thy 
justice. 


COMPLINE. 


-117 


Bow  down  thy  ear  to  me  : 
make  haste  to  deliver  me. 

Be  thou  unto  me  a  God,  a 
protector,  and  a  house  of  re- 
fuge, to  save  me. 

For  thou  art  my  strength, 
and  my  refuge  :  and  for  thy 
name's  sake  thou  wilt  lead 
me,  and  nourish  me. 

Thou  wilt  bring  me  out  of 
this  snare,  which  they  have 
hidden  for  me  :  for  thou  art 
my  protector. 

Into  thy  hands  I  commend 
my  spirit  :  thou  hast  re- 
deemed me,  0  Lord,  the  God 
of  truth. 


Inclina  ad  me  aurem 
tuam :  *  accelera  ut  eruas 
me. 

Esto  mihi  in  Deum  pro- 
tectorem,  et  in  domum  re- 
f ugii  :  *  ut  salvum  me  facias. 

Quoniam  fortitudo  mea,  et 
refugium  meum  es  tu  :  *  et 
propter  nomen  tuum  deduces 
me,  et  enutries  me. 

Educes  me  de  laqueo  hoc, 
quern  absconderunt  mihi :  * 
quoniam  tu  es  protector 
meus. 

In  manus  tuas  commendo 
spiritum  meum  :  *  redemisti 
me,  Domine,  Deus  veritatis. 


The  third  Psalm  gives  the  motives  of  the  just 
man's  confidence,  even  during  the  dangers  of  the 
night.  Then,  we  have  God  himself  speaking,  and 
promising  to  show  us  our  Saviour. 

PSALM   90. 


He  that  dwelleth  in  the  aid 
of  the  Most  High,  shall  abide 
under  the  protection  of  the 
God  of  heaven. 

He  shall  say  to  the  Lord  : 
Thou  art  my  protector,  and 
my  refuge  :  my  God,  in  him 
will  I  trust. 

For  he  hath  delivered  me 
from  the  snare  of  the  hun- 
ters :  and  from  the  sharp 
word. 

He  will  overshadow  thee 
with  his  shoulders  :  and  un- 
der his  wings  thou  shalt  trust. 

His  truth  shall  compass 
thee  with  a  shield  :  thou  shalt 
not  be  afraid  of  the  terror  of 
the  night. 

Of  the  arrow  that  flieth  in 


Qui  habitat  in  adjutorio 
Altissimi  :  *  in  protectione 
Dei  coeli  commorabitur. 

Dicet  Domino :  Susceptor 
meus  es  tu,  et  refugium 
meum  :  *  Deus  meus,  spe- 
rabo  in  eum. 

Quoniam  ipse  liberavit  me 
de  laqueo  venantium  :  *  et  a 
verbo  aspero. 

Scapulis  suis  obumbrabit 
tibi :  *  et  sub  pennis  ejus 
sperabis. 

Scuto  circumdabit  te  Ve- 
ritas ejus  :  *  non  timebis  a 
timore  nocturne 

A  sagitta  volante  in  die,  a 


118 


ADVENT. 


negotio  perambulante  in  te- 
nebris  :  *  ab  incursu,  et  dse- 
monio  meridiano. 

Cadent  a  latere  tuo  mille, 
et  decern  millia  a  dextris 
tuis  :  *  ad  te  autem  non 
appropinquabit. 

Verumtamen  ocuiis  tuis 
considerabis  :  *  et  •  retribu- 
tionem  peccatorum  videbis. 

Quoniam  tu  es,  Domine, 
spes  mea  :  *  Altissimum  po- 
suisti  refugium  tuum. 

Non  accedet  ad  te  malum  : 

*  et  flagellum  non  appropin- 
quabit tabernaculo  tuo. 

Quoniam  Angelis  suis  man- 
davit  de  te  :  *  ut  custodiant 
te  in  omnibus  viis  tuis. 

In  manibus  portabunt  te  : 

*  ne  forte  offendas  ad  lapi- 
dem  pedem  tuum. 

Super  aspidem  et  basilis- 
cum  ambulabis  :  *  et  concul- 
cabis  leonem  et  draconem.    " 

Quoniam  in  me  speravit, 

liberabo  eum :  *   protegam 

eum,  quoniam  cognovit  no- 
men  meum. 

Clamabit  ad  me,    et    ego 


exaudiam  eum 


cum  ipso 


sum  in  tribulatione,  eripiam 
eum  et  glorificabo  eum. 

Longitudine  dierum  re- 
plebo  eum :  *  et  ostendam 
illi  Salutare  meum. 


the  day  :  of  the  business  that 
walketh  about  in  the  dark  : 
of  invasion,  or  of  the  noon- 
day devil. 

A  thousand  shall  fall  at 
thy  side,  and  ten  thousand  at 
thy  right  hand  :  but  it  shall 
not  come  nigh  thee. 

But  thou  shalt  consider 
with  thy  eyes  :  and  shalt  see 
the  reward  of  the  wicked. 

Because  thou  hast  said: 
Thou,  O  Lord,  art  my  hope  : 
Thou  hast  made  the  Most 
High  thy  refuge. 

There  shall  no  evil  come  to 
thee,  nor  shall  the  scourge 
come  near  thy  dwelling. 

For  he  hath  given  his 
Angels  charge  over  thee :  to 
keep  thee  in  all  thy  ways. 

In  their  hands  they  shall 
bear  thee  up  :  lest  thou  dash 
thy  foot  against  a  stone. 

Thou  shalt  walk  upou  the 
asp  and  basilisk :  and  thou 
shalt  trample  under  foot  the 
lion  and  the  dragon. 

God  ivill  say  of  thee  : 
Because  he  hoped  in  me,  I 
will  deliver  him  :  I  will  pro- 
tect him,  because  he  hath 
known  my  name. 

He  will  cry  to  me,  and  I 
will  hear  him  :  I  am  with 
him  in  tribulation,  I  will 
deliver  him,  and  I  will  glorify 
him. 

I  will  fill  him  with  length 
of  days  :  and  I  will  show 
him  my  salvation. 


The  fourth  Psalm  invites  the  Servants  of  God  to 
persevere  with  fervour,  in  the  prayers  they  offer 
during  the  Night.  The  Faithful  should  say  this 
Psalm  in  a  spirit  of  gratitude  to  God,  for  his  raising 


COMPLINE. 


119 


up,  in  the  Church,  adorers  of  his  holy  name,  whose 
grand  vocation  is  to  lift  up  their  hands,  day  and 
night,  for  the  safety  of  Israel.  On  such  prayers 
depend  the  happiness  and  destinies  of  the  world. 

PSALM   133. 


Behold  now  bless  ye  the 
Lord,  all  ye  servants  of  the 
Lord. 

Who  stand  in  the  house  of 
the  Lord,  in  the  courts  of  the 
house  of  our  God. 

In  the  nights  lift  up  your 
hands  to  the  holy  places,  and 
bless  ye  the  Lord. 

Say  to  Israel:  May  the 
Lord  out  of  Sion  bless  thee, 
he  that  made  heaven  and 
earth. 

Ant.  Have  mercy  on  me, 
0  Lord,  and  hear  my  prayer. 


Ecce  nunc  benedicite  Do- 
minum  :  *  omnes  servi  Do- 
mini. 

Qui  statis  in  domo  Domi- 
ni:  *  in  atriis  domus  Dei 
nostri. 

In  noctibus  extollite  ma- 
nus  vestras  in  sancta :  *  et 
benedicite  Dominum. 

Benedicat  te  Dominus  ex 
Sion  :  *  qui  fecit  ccelum  et 
terram. 

Ant.  Miserere  mei,  Do- 
mine,  et  exaudi  orationem 
meam. 


HYMN. 


t  Before  the  closing  of  the 
light,  we  beseech  thee,  Crea- 
tor of  all  things  !  that,  in 
thy  clemency,  thou  be  our 
protector  and  our  guard. 

May  the  dreams  and  phan- 
toms of  night  depart  far  from 
us  ;  and  do  thou  repress  our 
enemy,  lest  our  bodies  be 
profaned. 

Most     merciful     Father ! 


Te  lucis  ante  terminum, 
Rerum  Creator,  poscimus, 
Ut  pro  tua  dementia 
Sis  prsesul  et  custodia. 

Procul  recedant  somnia, 
Et  noctium  phantasmata ; 
Hostemque    nostrum     com- 

prime, 
Ne  polluantur  corpora. 

Prsesta,  Pater  piissime, 


*  According  to  the  Monastic  Rite,  as  follows 


Te  lucis  ante  terminum, 
Rerum  Creator,  poscimus, 
Ut  solita  dementia 
Sis  praesul  ad  custodiam. 

Procul  recedant  somnia 
Et  noctium  phantasmata ; 


Hostemque  nostrum  comprime, 
Ne  polluantur  corpora. 

Praesta  Pater  omnipotens, 
Per  Jesum  Christum  Dominum, 
Qui  tecum  in  perpetuum 
Regnat  cum  Sancto  Spiritu. 


120 


ADVENT. 


Patrique  compar  Unice, 
Cum  Spiritu  Paraclito 
Regnans  per  omne  sseculum. 
Amen. 


and  thou,  his  Only  Begotten 
Son,  co-equal  with  him ! 
reigning  for  ever  with  the 
Holy  Paraclete  !  grant  this 
our  prayer.    Amen. 


CAPITULUM. 

(Jeremias,  xiv.) 


Tu  autem  in  nobis  es, 
Domine,  et  nomen  sanctum 
tuum  invocatum  est  super 
nos  ;  ne  derelinquas  nos,  Do- 
mine Deus  noster. 

1$.  In  manus  tuas,  Domi- 
ne :  *  Commendo  spiritum 
meum.     In  manus  tuas. 

ft.  Kedemisti  nos,  Domine 
Deus  veritatis.  *  Commendo. 

Gloria.    In  manus  tuas. 

ft.  Custodi  nos,  Domine, 
ut  pupillam  oculi. 

1$.  Sub  umbra  alarum  tua- 
rum  protege  nos. 


But  thou  art  in  us,  O  Lord, 
and  thy  holy  name  has  been 
invoked  upon  us  :  forsake  us 
not,  O  Lord  our  God. 

1$.  Into  thy  hands,  O  Lord: 
*  I  commend  my  spirit.  Into 
thy  hands. 

ft.  Thou  hast  redeemed  us, 
O  Lord  God  of  truth.  *  I 
commend. 

Glory.     Into  thy  hands. 

ft.  Preserve  us,  0  Lord,  as 
the  apple  of  thine  eye. 

1$.  Protect  us  under  the 
shadow  of  thy  wings. 


The  Canticle  of  the  venerable  Simeon, — who,  whilst 
holding  the  divine  Infant  in  his  arms,  proclaimed 
him  to  be  the  Light  of  the  Gentiles,  and  then  slept 
the  sleep  of  the  just, — admirably  expresses  the  rest 
which  a  good  Christian,  whose  heart  is  united  to  God, 
enjoys  in  Jesus  •  for,  as  the  Apostle  says,  whether 
we  wake  or  sleep,  ive  live  together  with  him  who  died 
for  us.1 

CANTICLE  OF  SIMEON. 

(St.  Luke,  ii.) 

Nunc  dimittis  servum  Now  dost  thou  dismiss  thy 
tuum,  Domine  :  *  secundum  servant,  0  Lord,  according  to 
verbum  tuum  in  pace.  thy  word,  in  peace. 


1  I.  Thess.  v.  10. 


COMPLINE. 


121 


Because  my  eyes  have  seen 
thy  Salvation. 

Which  thou  hast  prepared 
before  the  face  of  all  peoples. 

A  light  to  the  revelation  of 
the  Gentiles,  and  the  glory  of 
thy  people  Israel. 

Glory,  &c. 

Ant.  Save  us,  O  Lord, 
whilst  awake,  and  watch  us 
as  we  sleep  ;  that  we  may 
watch  with  Christ,  and  rest 
in  peace. 


Quia  viderunt  oculi  mei : 
*  Salutare  tuum. 

Quod  parasti :  *ante  f  aciem 
omnium  populorum. 

Lumen  ad  revelationem 
Gentium  :  *  et  gloriam  plebis 
tuae  Israel. 

Gloria  Patri,  et  Filio,  &c. 

Ant.  Salva  nos,  Domine, 
vigilantes :  custodi  nos  dor- 
mientes,  ut  vigilemus  cum 
Christo,  et  requiescamus  in 
pace. 


PRAYERS. 


Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 
Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 
Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Our  Father. 

ft.  And  lead  us  not  into 
temptation. 

1$.  But  deliver  us  from  evil. 

ft.  I  believe  in  God,  &c. 

ft.  The  resurrection  of  the 
body. 

1$.  And  life  everlasting. 
Amen. 

ft.  Blessed  art  thou,0  Lord 
God  of  our  fathers. 

1$.  And  praiseworthy  and 
glorious  for  ever. 

ft.  Let  us  bless  the  Father, 
and  the  Son,  with  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

1$.  Let  us  praise,  and  mag- 
nify him  for  ever. 

*.  Thou  art  blessed,  O 
Lord,  in  the  firmament  of 
heaven. 

1$.  And  praiseworthy,  and 
glorious,  and  magnified  for 
ever. 

ft.  May  the  Almighty  and 
merciful  Lord  bless  us  and 
keep  us. 

1$.  Amen. 


Kyrie  eleison,  Christe  elei- 
son.     Kyrie  eleison. 

Pater  noster. 

ft.  Et  ne  nos  inducas  in 
tentationem. 
]$.'  Sed  libera  nos  a  malo. 
ft.  Credo  in  Deum,  &c. 
ft.  Carnis  resurrectionem. 

1$.  Vitam  aeternam.  Amen. 

ft.  Benedictus  es,  Domine 
Deus  patrum  nostrorum. 

T$.  Et  laudabilis  et  glorio- 
sus  in  saecula. 

ft.  Benedicamus  Patrem,  et 
Filium,  cum  Sancto  Spiritu. 

1$.  Laudemus,  et  super- 
exaltemus  eum  in  saecula. 

ft.  Benedictus  es,  Domine, 
in  firmamento  cceli. 

1$.  Et  laudabilis,  et  glori- 
osus,  et  superexaltatus  in 
saecula. 

ft.  Benedicat  et  custodiat 
nos  omnipotens  et  misericors 
Dominus. 

Ij&.  Amen. 


122 


ADVENT. 


ft.  Dignare,  Domine,  nocte 
ista, 

I|.  Sine  peccato  nos  cus- 
todire. 

ft.  Miserere  nostri,  Do- 
mine. 

I£.  Miserere  nostri. 

ft.  Fiat  misericordia  tua, 
Domine,  super  nos. 

1$.  Quemadmodum  spera- 
vimus  in  te. 

ft.  Domine,  exaudi  ora- 
tionem  meam. 

Tfy.  Et  clamor  meus  ad  te 
veniat. 


ft.  Vouchsafe,  0  Lord,  this 
night, 
I£.  To  keep  us  without  sin. 

ft.  Have  mercy  on  us,  O 
Lord. 

]$.  Have  mercy  on  us. 

ft.  Let  thy  mercy  be  upon 
us,  O  Lord. 

1$.  As  we  have  hoped  in 
thee. 

ft.  O  Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

I£.  And  let  my  cry  come 
unto  thee. 


After  these  Prayers,  (which  are  omitted  if  the  Office 
be  of  a  double  rite,)  the  Priest  says : 


ft.  Dominus  vobiscum. 
1$.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 

OREMTJS. 

Visita,  quaesumus,  Domine, 
habitationem  istam,  et  omnes 
insidias  inimici  ab  ea  longe 
repelle  :  Angeli  tui  sancti 
habitent  in  ea,  qui  nos  in 
pace  custodiant :  et  benedic- 
tio  tua  sit  super  nos  semper. 
Per  Dominum  nostrum  Jesum 
Christum  Filium  tuum,  qui 
tecum  vivit  et  regnat  in 
unitate  Spiritus  Sancti  Deus, 
per  omnia  saecula  sseculorum. 

Amen. 

ft.  Dominus  vobiscum. 

3$.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 

ft.  Benedicamus  Domino. 

1$.  Deo  gratias. 

Benedicat  et  custodiat  nos 
omnipotens  et  misericors 
Dominus,  Pater,  et  Filius,  et 
Spiritus  Sanctus. 

1$.  Amen. 


ft.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 
1$.  And  with  thy  spirit. 

LET  US  PRAY. 

Visit,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Lord,  this  house  and  family, 
and  drive  from  it  all  snares 
of  the  enemy :  let  thy  holy 
Angels  dwell  herein,  who  may 
keep  us  in  peace,  and  may 
thy  blessing  be  always  upon 
us.  Through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord,  thy  Son,  who  liveth 
and  reigneth  with  thee,  in 
the  unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
God,  world  without  end. 

Amen. 

ft.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 

I£.  And  with  thy  spirit. 

ft.  Let  us  bless  the  Lord. 

^.  Thanks  be  to  God. 

May  the  Almighty  and  mer- 
ciful Lord,  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost  bless  and  pre- 
serve us. 

1$.  Amen. 


COMPLINE. 


123 


ANTHEM  TO   THE  BLESSED   VIRGIN. 


Sweet  Mother  of  our  Re- 
deemer !  Gate  whereby  we 
enter  heaven,  and  Star  of  the 
sea,  help  us,  we  fall ;  yet  do 
we  long  to  rise.  Nature 
looked  upon  thee  with  ad- 
miration, when  thou  didst 
give  birth  to  thy  divine 
Creator,  thyself  remaining, 
before  and  after  it,  a  pure 
Virgin.  Gabriel  spoke  his 
Hail  to  thee ;  we  sinners  crave 
thy  pity. 

f.  The  Angel  of  the  Lord 
declared  unto  Mary. 

1$.  And  she  conceived  of 
the  Holy  Ghost. 


Alma  Redemptoris  mater, 
quae  pervia  cceli 

Porta  manes,  et  stella  maris, 
succurre  cadenti 

Surgere  qui  curat  populo. 
Tu  quae  genuisti, 

Natura  mirante,  tuum  sanc- 
tum Genitorem, 

Virgo  prius  ac  posterius. 
Gabrielis  ab  ore 

Sumens  illud  Ave,  peccato- 
rum  miserere. 

ff.  Angelus  Domini  nun- 
tiavit  Mariae. 

1$.  Et  concepit  de  Spiritu 
Sancto. 


LET  US  PRAY. 

Pour  forth,  we  beseech  thee, 
O  Lord,  thy  grace  into  our 
hearts  ;  that  we,  to  whom  the 
Incarnation  of  Christ  thy 
Son  was  made  known  by  the 
message  of  an  Angel,  may,  by 
his  Passion  and  Cross,  be 
brought  to  the  glory  of  his 
Resurrection.  Through  the 
same  Christ  our  Lord. 

3^.  Amen. 

"ft.  May  the  divine  assist- 
ance remain  always  with  us. 

1$.  Amen.* 


OKEMUS. 

Gratiam  tuam,  quaesumus, 
Domine,  mentibus  nostris  in- 
funde,  ut  qui,  Angelo  nun- 
tiante  Christi  Filii  tui  Incar- 
nationem  cognovimus,  per 
Passionem  ejus  et  Crucem  ad 
Resurrectionis  gloriam  per- 
ducamur.  Per  eumdem 
ChristumDominum  nostrum. 

1$.  Amen. 

"ff.  Divinum  auxilium  ma- 
neat  semper  nobiscum. 
R.  Amen.* 


Then,  in  secret,  Pater,  Ave,  and  Credo ;  page  46. 


In  the  Monastic  Rite,  this  Response  is  as  follows  : 


IJ.  And  with  our  absent  Bre-         R.  Et  cum  fratribus  nostris 
thren.     Amen.  absentibus.     Amen. 


ADVENT 


PROPER  OF  THE  TIME. 

Under  this  heading  of  Proper  of  the  Time,  we 
here  comprise  the  moveable  Office  of  the  Sundays 
and  Ferias  of  Advent.  Though  anxious  to  give  to 
the  faithful  the  flowers  of  the  Advent  Liturgy,  yet 
were  we  to  bring  forward  even  those  which  might  be 
considered  as  the  choicest,  four  volumes  would  have 
barely  sufficed.  The  fear  of  making  our  work  too 
expensive  to  the  faithful,  persuaded  us  to  limit  it 
within  much  narrower  bounds,  and  out  of  the  abun- 
dant treasures  before  us,  to  give  what  we  thought 
could  be  least  dispensed  with. 

The  plan  we  have  adopted  is  this  :  We  give  the 
whole  of  the  Mass  and  Vespers  for  the  four  Sundays 
of  Advent.  On  the  Ferial  days,  we  give  one,  at  least, 
of  the  lessons  from  Isaias,  which  are  read  in  the 
Office  of  Matins;  adding  to  this  a  Hymn  or  Sequence, 
or  some  other  poetic  liturgical  composition.  All 
these  have  been  taken  from  the  gravest  sources,  for 
example,  from  the  Roman  and  Mozarabic  Breviaries, 
from  the  Greek  Anthology  and  Meusea,  from  the 
Missals  of  the  Middle  Ages,  &c.  After  this  Hymn  or 
Sequence,  we  have  given  a  Prayer  from  the  Ambro- 
sian,  Gallican,  or  Mozarabic  Missals.  So  that  the 
faithful  will  find,  in  our  collection,  an  unprecedented 
abundance  of  liturgical  formulae,  each  of  which 
carries  authority  with  it,  as  being  taken  from  ancient 
and  approved  sources. 


126  ADVENT. 

We  have  not  thought  it  desirable  to  give  a  com- 
mentary to  each  of  the  liturgical  formulae  inserted  in 
our  work.  It  seemed  to  us  that  they  would  be  ren- 
dered sufficiently  intelligible  by  the  general  explana- 
tion which  runs  through  our  work,  and  in  which  ex- 
planation we  have  endeavoured  to  excite  the  devotion 
of  the  reader,  give  unity  to  the  several  parts,  and 
afford  solid  instruction.  We  shall  thus  avoid  all 
those  repetitions  and  common-place  remarks,  which 
do  little  more  than  fatigue  the  reader. 

We  have  inserted  the  Great  Antiphons  and  the 
Office  of  Christmas  Eve  in  the  Proper  of  the  Saints, 
because  both  of  these  have  fixed  days  in  the  Calen- 
dar, and  to  put  them  in  the  Proper  of  the  Time,  as 
they  are  in  the  Breviary  and  Missal,  would  have  re- 
quired us  to  introduce  into  a  book,  destined  for  the 
laity,  rubrics  which  are  somewhat  complicated,  and 
would,  perhaps,  not  have  been  understood. 


FIRST   SUNDAY  OF   ADVENT.  127 


THE  FIRST  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


This  Sunday,  the  first  of  the  ecclesiastical  year,  is 
called,  in  the  chronicles  and  charts  of  the  Middle 
Ages,  Ad  te  levavi  Sunday,  from  the  first  words  of 
the  Introit ;  or,  Aspiciens  a  longe,  from  the  first 
words  of  one  of  the  Responsories  of  Matins. 

The  Station1  is  at  St.  Mary  Major's.  It  is  under 
the  auspices  of  Mary, — in  the  splendid  Basilica  which 
possesses  the  Crib  of  Bethlehem,  and  is  therefore 
called,  in  ancient  documents,  St.  Mary's  ad  Prcesepe, 
— that  the  Roman  Church  recommences,  each  year, 
the  sacred  Cycle.  It  would  have  been  impossible  to 
select  a  place  more  suitable  than  this  for  saluting  the 
approach  of  the  Divine  Birth,  which  is  to  gladden 
heaven  and  earth,  and  manifest  the  sublime  portent 
of  a  Virgin  Mother.  Let  us  go  in  spirit  to  this 
august  temple,  and  unite  in  the  prayers  which  are 
there  being  offered  up  :  they  are  the  very  ones  we 
also  use,  and  which  we  will  now  explain. 

In  the  Night  Office,  the  Church  commences  the 
reading  of  the  Book  of  Isaias,  who,  of  all  the  Prophets, 
has  the  most  distinctly  and  explicitly  foretold  the 
Messias;  and  she  continues  this  same  Book  until 
Christmas  Day  inclusively.  Let  us  strive  to  enter 
into  the  teaching  of  the  holy  Prophet,  and  let  the 
eye  of  our  faith  affectionately  recognise  the  promised 
Saviour  in  the  descriptions,  sometimes  consoling  and 
sometimes  terrifying,  under  which  Isaias  depicts  him. 

1  The  Stations  marked  in  the  Roman  Missal  for  certain  days  in 
the  year,  were  formerly  processions,  in  which  the  whole  clergy 
and  people  went  to  some  given  church,  and  there  celebrated  the 
Office  and  Mass.  This  usage,  which  dates  from  the  earliest  period 
of  the  "Roman  Church,  and  of  which  St.  Gregory  the  Great  was 
but  the  restorer,  still  exists,  at  least  in  a  measure  ;  for  the 
Stations  are  still  observed,  though  with  less  solemnity  and  con- 
course of  people,  on  all  the  days  specified  in  the  Missal. 


128 


ADVENT. 


Regem    venturum   Domi 
num,  venite  adoremus. 


The  first  words  of  the  Church,  in  the  still  mid- 
night, are  these : 

Come,  let  us  adore  the 
King  our  Lord,  who  is  to 
come. 

This  first  duty  of  adoration  complied  with,  let  us 
listen  to  the  oracle  of  the  Prophet  Isaias,  delivered  to 
us  by  the  holy  Church : 


Incipit  liber  Isaiae  Prophetse. 

Cap.  I. 
Visio  Isaise  filii  Amos,  quam 
vidit  super  Judam  et  Jerusa- 
lem, in  diebus  Oziae,  Joathan, 
Achaz,  et  Ezechise  regum 
Juda.  Audite,  coeli,  et  auribus 
percipe,  terra  ;  quoniam  Do- 
minus  locutus  est :  Filios  enu- 
trivi,  et  exaltavi  :  ipsi  autem 
spreverunt  me.  Cognovit  bos 
possessorem  suum,  et  asinus 
prsesepe  domini  sui :  Israel 
autem  me  non  cognovit,  et 
populus  meus  non  intellexit. 
Vse  genti  peccatrici,  populo 
gravi  iniquitate,  semini  ne- 
quam,  filiis  sceleratis.  Dere- 
liquerunt  Dominum,  blas- 
phemaverunt  Sanctum  Is- 
rael, abalienati  sunt  retror- 
sum.  Super  quo  percutiam 
vos  ultra,  addentes  prsevari- 
cationem  1  Omne  caput  lan- 
guidum,  et  omne  cor  mce- 
rens.  A  planta  pedis  usque 
ad  verticem  non  est  in  eo 
sanitas  :  vulnus,  et  livor  et 
plaga  tumens  non  est  cir- 
cumligata,  nee  curata  medi- 
camine,  neque  f  ota  oleo. 


Beginning  of  the  Book  of  the 
Prophet  Isaias. 
Ch.  I. 
The  vision  of  Isaias,  the 
son  of  Amos,  which  he  saw 
concerning  Juda  and  Jerusa- 
lem, in  the  days  of  Ozias, 
Joathan,  Achaz,  and  Eze- 
chias,  Kings  of  Juda.  Hear, 
O  ye  heavens,  and  give  ear, 
O  earth,  for  the  Lord  hath 
spoken  :  I  have  brought  up 
children,  and  exalted  them  : 
but  they  have  despised  me. 
The  ox  knoweth  his  owner, 
and  the  ass  his  master's  crib  : 
but  Israel  hath  not  known 
me,  and  my  people  hath  not 
understood.  Wo  to  the  sin- 
ful nation,  a  people  laden 
with  iniquity,  a  wicked  seed, 
ungracious  children.  They 
have  forsaken  the  Lord,  they 
have  blasphemed  the  Holy 
One  of  Israel,  they  are  gone 
away  backwards.  For  what 
shall  I  strike  you  any  more, 
you  that  increase  trangres- 
sion  1  The  whole  head  is 
sick,  and  the  whole  heart  is 
sad.  From  the  sole  of  the 
foot  unto  the  top  of  the  head, 
there  is  no  soundness  therein ; 
wounds,  and  bruises,  and 
swelling  sores  ;  they  are  not 
bound  up,  nor  dressed,  nor 
fomented  with  oil. 


FIRST  SUNDAY  OP  ADVENT.  129 

These  words  of  the  holy  Prophet,  or  rather  of  God 
who  speaks  to  us  by  the  Prophet,   should  make  a 
deep  impression  on  the  children  of  the  Church,  at 
this  opening  of  the  holy  period  of  Advent.     Who 
could  hear  without  trembling  this  voice  of  our  Lord, 
who  is  despised  and  unknown  even  at  the  very  time 
when  he  is  come  to  visit  his  people  ?     Lest   men 
should  be  terrified  at  the  splendour  of  his  Majesty, 
he  divested  himself  of  it ;  and^far  from  acknowledg- 
ing  the  divine  power  of  Him  who  thus  humbled 
himself  out  of  love  to  them,  these  men  have  refused 
even  to  know  him ;  and  the  crib,  where  he  lay  after 
his  birth,  had,  at  first,  but  two  dumb  animals  to 
honour  or  notice  it.     Do  you  feel,  Christians,  how 
just  are  the  complaints  which  your  God  here  makes  \ 
and  how  your  indifference  for  all  his  love  is  an  insult  ? 
He  calls  heaven   and  earth  to  witness ;   he  utters 
anathema  against  the  sinful  nation,  his  ungrateful 
children.     Let  us  honestly  confess  that  we,  too,  have 
not  known  the  value  of  our  Jesus'  visit  to  us,  and 
that  we  have  but  too  faithfully  imitated  the  obduracy 
of  the  Jews,  who  heeded  not.  the  bright  Light  when 
it  burst  upon  their  darkness.    In  vain  did  the  Angels 
sing  on  that  December  night ;  in  vain  did  shepherds 
receive  and  welcome  the  invitation  to  adore  the  Babe 
and  know  him ;  in  vain  did  the  Magi  come  from  the 
East,  asking  where  they  were  to  find  the  Crib  of  the 
King  that  was  born.     At  this  last  example,  the  city 
of  Jerusalem  was  somewhat  moved ;  but  the  astonish- 
ment was  only  for  a  moment,  and  the  old  indifference 
soon  stifled  the  good  tidings. 

Thus  it  is,  O  Jesus,  that  thou  comest  unto  dark- 
ness, and  darkness  does  not  comprehend  thee.  We 
beseech  thee,  let  our  darkness  comprehend  the  Light, 
and  desire  it.  The  day  will  come  when  thou  wilt 
disperse  the  spiritual  and  voluntary  darkness  of  men 
by  the  awful  light  of  thy  justice.  Thy  glory,  O 
Sovereign  Judge,  will  be  magnificent  on  that  day,  and 


130  ADVENT. 

we  love  to  think  upon  thy  having  it : — but  during 
these  days  of  our  life  on  earth,  deliver  us  from  thy 
wrath.  We  are  one  great  wound  from  the  sole  of 
the  foot  unto  the  top  of  the  head  ;  thou  knowest  not 
where  to  strike : — be,  then,  a  Saviour,  O  Jesus,  in 
this  Coming,  for  which  we  are  now  preparing.  The 
whole  head  is  sick,  and  the  whole  heart  is  sad : 
come,  and  raise  up  this  head  which  shame  and  vile 
passions  bow  down  to  the  earth.  Come,  and  comfort 
this  heart  oppressed  with  sin  and  fear.  We  confess 
it,  our  wounds  are  deep  and  sore ;  come,  thou  Good 
Samaritan,  pour  in  thy  soothing  oil  and  heal  them. 

The  whole  world  is  in  expectation  of  its  Redeemer ; 
come,  dear  Jesus,  show  thyself  to  it  by  granting  it 
salvation.  The  Church,  thy  spouse,  is  now  com- 
mencing another  year,  and  her  first  word  is  to  thee, 
a  word  which  she  speaks  in  the  anxious  solicitude  of 
a  mother  for  the  safety  of  her  children;  she  cries  out 
to  thee,  saying  :  Come  !  No,  we  will  go  no  further 
in  our  journey  through  the  desert  of  this  life  without 
thee,  O  Jesus  !  Time  is  passing  quickly  away  from 
us ;  our  day  is  perhaps  far  spent,  and  the  shades  of 
our  life's  night  are  fast  coming  on ;  arise,  O  divine 
Sun  of  Justice  ;  Come !  guide  our  steps,  and  save  us 
from  eternal  death. 


MASS. 


Whilst  the  Priest  is  approaching  the  altar,  there 
to  offer  up  the  Holy  Sacrifice,  the  Church  opens  her 
chants  by  this  beautiful  one,  which  so  well  expresses 
her  confidence  as  the  beloved  Spouse  of  Jesus.  Let 
us  repeat  it  together  with  her,  and  let  the  heart  be 
in  harmony  with  our  voice,  for  the  Saviour  comes  to 
each  of  us  in  proportion  to  the  earnestness  of  our 
longing  for  him. 


FIRST  SUNDAY   OF  ADVENT. 


131 


INTROIT. 


To  thee  have  I  lifted  up 
my  soul :  in  thee,  0  my  God, 
I  put  my  trust,  let  me  not  be 
ashamed :  neither  let  my 
enemies  laugh  at  me :  for 
none  of  them  that  wait  on 
thee  shall  be  confounded. 

Ps.  Show,  O  Lord,  thy 
ways  to  me,  and  teach  me 
thy  paths. 

~ff.  Glory  be  to  the  Father, 
and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the 
Holy  Ghost.  As  it  was  in 
the  beginning,  is  now,  and 
ever  shall  be,  world  without 
end.     Amen. 

Repeat:  To  thee. 


Ad  te  levavi  animam 
meam ;  Deus  meus,  in  te 
confido,  non  erubescam  ■ 
neque  irrideant  me  inimici 
mei :  etenim  universi  qui  te 
exspectant  non  conf  undentur. 

Ps.  Vias  tuas,  Domine, 
demonstra  mihi  :  et  semitas 
tuas  edoce  me. 

f.  Gloria  Patri,  et  Filio,  et 
Spiritui  Sancto.  Sicut  erat  in 
principio,  et  nunc  et  semper, 
et  in  sascula  saeculorum. 

Amen. 

Repeat :  Ad  te  levavi. 


After  the  Kyvie  eleison,  the  Priest  embodies  in 
the  following  prayers,  called  on  that  account  the 
Collects,  all  the  desires  and  petitions  of  the  Church 
for  this  first  Sunday  : 


COLLECT. 


Exert,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Lord,  thy  power,  and  come  : 
that  by  thy  protection  we 
may  be  freed  from  the  immi- 
nent dangers  of  our  sins,  and 
be  saved  by  thy  mercy.  Who 
liveth  and  reigneth  with  God 
the  Father,  in  the  unity  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  God,  world 
without  end. 

1$.  Amen. 


Excita  qusesumus,  Do- 
mine, potentiam  tuam  et 
veni  :  ut  ab  imminentibus 
peccatorum  nostrorum  peri- 
culis,  te  mereamur  prote- 
gente  eripi,  te  liberante  sal- 
vari.  Qui  vivis  et  re^nas 
cum  Deo  Patre  in  unitate 
Spiritus  Sancti,  Deus,  per 
omnia  saecula  saeculorum. 

1$.  Amen. 


It  is  right  that  we  should  also  beg,  during  this 
holy  season,  the  all-powerful  mediation  of  Her  who, 
at  first,  was  the  sole  depository  of  the  great  secret 


132 


ADVENT. 


which  was  to  give  life  to  the  world, 
with  the  Priest : 


Let  us  then  say 


IN   HONOUR   OF   THE   BLESSED   VIRGIN. 


Deus,  qui  de  beatae  Marias 
Virginis  utero  Verbuni  tuum 
Angelo  nuntiante,  carnem 
suscipere  voluisti  :  prsesta 
supplicibus  tuis ;  ut,  qui 
vere  earn  Genitricem  Dei 
credimus,  ejus  apud  te  inter- 
cession ibus  adjuvemur. 


O  God,  who  wast  pleased 
that  thy  Word,  when  the 
Angel  delivered  his  message, 
should  take  flesh  in  the 
womb  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary,  give  ear  to  our  humble 
petitions,  and  grant  that  we 
who  believe  her  to  be  truly 
the  Mother  of  God,  may  be 
helped  by  her  prayers. 


To  this  is  immediately  added  one  of  the  following 
Prayers  : 


AGAINST   THE   PERSECUTORS   OF   THE   CHURCH. 


Ecclesiae  fuse,  qusesumus, 
Dofnine,  preces  placatns  ad- 
mitte  :  ut,  destructis  adver- 
sitatibus  et  erroribus  univer- 
sis,  secura  tibi  serviat  liber- 
tate.     Per  Dominum. 


Mercifully  hear,  we  be- 
seech thee,  O  Lord,  the 
prayers  of  thy  Church  :  that, 
all  oppositions  and  errors 
being  removed,  she  may  serve 
thee  with  a  secure  liberty. 
Through,  dec. 


FOR   THE   POPE. 


Deus,  omnium  fidelium 
Pastor  et  Rector,  famulum 
tuum  N.  quern  Pastorem 
Ecclesise  tuse  prseesse  volu- 
isti, propitius  respice  :  da  ei, 
qusesumus,  verbo  et  exemplo, 
quibus  praeest,  proficere  ;  ut 
ad  vitam,  una  cum  grege  sibi 
credito,  perveniat  sempiter- 
nam.     Per  Dominum. 


O  God,  the  Pastor  and 
Puler  of  all  the  faithful,  look 
down,  in  thy  mercy,  on  thy 
servant  N.,  whom  thou  hast 
appointed  Pastor  over  thy 
Church  ;  and  grant,  we  be- 
seech thee,  that  both  by  word 
and  example,  he  may  edify 
all  those  that  are  under  his 
charge  ;  and  with  the  flock 
intrusted  to  him,  arrive  at 
length  at  eternal  happiness. 
Through,  dec. 


FIRST   SUNDAY  X>F  ADVENT.  133 


EPISTLE. 

Lesson  of  the  Epistle  of  Saint    Lectio  Epistolse  beati  Pauli 
Paul  the   Apostle  to  the        Apostoli  ad  Romanos. 
Romans. 

Ch.  XIII.  Cap.  XIII. 

Brethren,  know  that  it  is        Fratres,  scientes  quia  hora 

now  the  hour  for  us  to  rise  est  jam  nos  de  somno  sur- 

from  sleep.       For  now  our  gere.     Nunc  enim  propior  est 

salvation  is  nearer  than  when  nostra  salus,  quam  cum  cre- 

*we  believed.     The  night  is  didimus.  ISTox  prsecessit,  dies 

passed   and    the  day  is    at  auteni  appropinquavit.  Abji- 

hand.     Let  us  therefore  cast  ciamus  ergo   opara  tenebra- 

off  the  works  of  darkness,  and  rum,     et     induamur     arma 

put  on  the  armour  of  light,  lucis.     Sicut  in  die  honeste 

Let  us  walk  honestly,  as  in  ambulemus  :   non  in  comes- 

the  day :  not  in  rioting  and  sationibus    et    ebrietatibus, 

drunkenness,  not  in  cham-  non  in  cubilibus  et  impudici- 

bering  and  impurities,  not  in  i iis,  non  in   contentione   et 

contention    and  envy  :    but  semulatione  :   sed  induimini 

put  ye  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Dominum  Jesum  Christum. 
Christ. 

The  Saviour,  then,  who  is  coming  to  us  is  the 
clothing  which  we  are  to  put  on  over  our  spiritual 
nakedness.  Here  let  us  admire  the  goodness  of  our 
God,  who,  remembering  that  man  hid  himself  after 
his  sin,  because  he  was  naked,  vouchsafes  himself  to 
become  man's  clothing,  and  cover  with  the  robe  of 
his  Divinity  the  misery  of  human  nature.  Let  us, 
therefore,  be  on  the  watch  for  the  day  and  the  hour 
when  he  will  come  to  us,  and  take  precautions 
against  the  drowsiness  which  comes  of  custom  and 
self-indulgence.  The  light  will  soon  appear;  may 
its  first  rays  be  witness  of  our  innocence,  or  at  least 
of  our  repentance.  If  our  Saviour  is  coming  to  put 
over  our  sins  a  covering  which  is  to  hide  them  for 
ever,  the  least  that  we,  on  our  part,  can  do,  is  to 
retain  no  further  affection  for  those  sins,  else  it  will 
be  said  of  us  that  we  refused  our  salvation.  The 
last  words  of  this  Epistle  were  those  which  caught 


134 


ADVENT. 


the  eye  of  St.  Augustine,  when,  after  a  long  resist- 
ance to  the  grace  which  pressed  him  to  give  himself 
to  God,  he  resolved  to  obey  the  voice  which  said 
to  him  :  Telle  lege  ;  take  and  read.  They  decided 
his  conversion  ;  he  immediately  resolved  to  abandon 
the  worldly  life  he  had  hitherto  led,  and  put  on 
Christ  Jesus.  Let  us  begin  this  very  day,  and 
imitate  this  Saint.  Let  us  long  for  that  dear  and 
glorious  Clothing,  with  which  the  mercy  of  our 
heavenly  Father  is  so  soon  to  cover  us,  and  say  with 
the  Church  these  touching  words,  which  we  cannot 
repeat  too  often  during  this  time  of  the  year : 

GRADUAL. 


Universi  qui  te  exspectant, 
non  confundentur,  Domine. 

$\  Vias  tuas,  Domine, 
notas  fac  mihi  :  et  semitas 
tuas  edoce  me. 

Alleluia,  Alleluia. 

$"„  Ostende  nobis,  Domine, 
misericordiam  tuam  :  et  Sa- 
lutare  tuum  da  nobis.  Alle- 
luia. 


None  of  them  that  wait  on 
thee  shall  be  confounded,  O 
Lord. 

f.  Show,  O  Lord,  thy 
ways  to  me  :  and  teach  me 
thy  paths. 

Alleluia,  Alleluia. 

$".  Show  us,  O  Lord,  thy 
mercy :  and  grant  us  thy 
salvation.     Alleluia. 


GOSPEL. 


Sequentia   sancti   Evangelii 
secundum  Lucam. 

Cap.  XXI. 

In  illo  tempore  :  Dixit  Je- 
sus discipulis  suis :  Erunt 
sign  a  in  sole,  et  luna,  et  stel- 
lis  ;  et  in  terris  pressura  gen- 
tium prae  confusione  sonitus 
maris  et  fluctuum  :  arescenti- 
bus  hominibus  prae  timore 
et  exspectatione,  quae  super- 
venient universo  orbi  :  nam 
Virtutes  coelorum  move- 
buntur ;  et  tunc  videbunt 
Filium  hominis  venientem 
in  nube  cum  potestate  mag- 


The  Sequel  of  the  holy  Gospel 
according  to  Luke. 

Ch.  XXL 

_  At  that  time,  Jesus  said  to 
his  Disciples  :  There  shall  be 
signs  in  the  sun,  and  in  the 
moon,  and  in  the  stars  :  and 
upon  the  earth  distress  of 
nations,  by  reason  of  the  con- 
fusion of  the  roaring  of  the 
sea,  and  of  the  waves  ;  men 
withering  away  for  fear,  and 
expectation  of  what  shall 
come  upon  the  whole  world  : 
for  the  powers  of  the  heaven 
shall  be  moved  j   and  then 


FIEST   SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


135 


they  shall  see  the  Son  of  Man 
coming  in  a  cloud  with  great 
power  and  majesty.  But 
when  these  things  begin  to 
come  to  pass  look  up,  and 
lift  up  your  heads  ;  because 
your  redemption  is  at  hand. 
And  he  spoke  to  them  a  simi- 
litude :  See  the  fig-tree  and 
all  the  trees  :  when  they  now 
shoot  forth  their  fruit,  you 
know  that  summer  is  nigh. 
So  you  also,  when  you  shall 
see  these  things  come  to  pass, 
know  that  the  kingdom  of 
God  is  at  hand.  Amen,  I 
say  to  you,  this  generation 
shall  not  pass  away  till  all 
things  be  fulfilled.  Heaven 
and  earth  shall  pass  away  ; 
but  my  words  shall  not  pass 
away. 


na  et  maj  estate.  His  au- 
tem  fieri  incipientibus,  re- 
spicite  et  levate  capita  ves- 
tra  ;  quoniam  appropinquat 
redemptio  vestra.  Et  dixit 
illis  similitudinem  :  Videte 
ficulneam,  et  omnes  arbores  : 
cum  producunt  jam  ex  se 
fructum,  scitis  quoniam  prope 
est  sestas.  Ita  et  vos  cum 
videritis  haec  fieri,  scitote 
quoniam  prope  est  regnum 
Dei.  Amen  dico  vobis  :  quia 
non  praeteribit  generatio  haec, 
donee  omnia  fiant.  Ccelum 
et  terra  transibunt :  verba 
autem  mea  non  transibunt. 


Thou  art  to  come,  then,  O  Jesus,  in  all  the  terror 
of  the  Last  Judgment,  and  when  men  least  expect 
thee  !  In  a  few  days,  thou  art  coming  to  us  to  clothe 
our  misery  with  the  garment  of  thy  mercy ;  a  gar- 
ment of  glory  and  immortality  to  us ;  but  thou  art 
to  come  again  on  a  future  day,  and  in  such  dread 
majesty,  that  men  will  wither  away  with  fear.  0  my 
Saviour  !  condemn  me  not  on  that  day  of  the  world's 
destruction.  Visit  me  now  in  thy  love  and  mercy ; 
I  am  resolved  to  prepare  my  soul.  I  desire  that 
thou  shouldst  come  and  be  born  within  me,  so  that 
when  the  convulsions  of  nature  warn  me  of  thy 
coming  to  judge  me,  I  may  lift  up  my  head,  as  thou 
biddest  thy  faithful  disciples  do,  who,  when  the  rest 
of  men  shall  tremble  at  the  thunder  of  thy  Judgment, 
will  have  confidence  in  thee,  because  they  have  thee 
in  their  hearts. 

During  the  offering  of  the  Bread  and  Wine,  the 


136 


ADVENT. 


Church,  with  her  look  steadfastly  fixed  on  Him  who 
is  to  come,  keeps  to  her  sweet  canticle : 


OFFERTORY. 


Ad  te  levavi  animam 
meam :  Deus  meus,  in  te 
confido,  non  erubescam  ; 
neque  irrideant  me  inimici 
mei  :  etenim  universi,  qui  te 
exspectant,  non  confunden- 
tur. 


To  thee,  O  Lord,  have  I 
lifted  up  my  soul  :  in  thee, 
O  my  God,  I  put  my  trust, 
let  me  hot  be  ashamed ; 
neither  let  my  enemies  laugh 
at  me  :  for  none  of  them  that 
wait  on  thee  shall  be  con- 
founded. 


After  the  oblation,  she  silently  presents  to  God 
the  petitions  of  all  her  children  by  the  following 
Prayers : 


THE   SECRETS. 


Haec  sacra  nos,  Domine, 
potenti  virtute  mundatos,  ad 
suum  faciant  puriores  venire 
principium.    Per  Dominum. 


Grant,  O  Lord,  that  these 
sacred  mysteries  may  cleanse 
us  by  their  powerful  virtue, 
and  bring  us  with  greater 
purity  to  him,  who  was  the 
author  and  institutor  of  them. 
Through,  &c. 


OF  THE  BLESSED  VIRGIN. 

In  mentibus  nostris,  quae-  Strengthen,     we    beseech 

sumus,  Domine,   verse    fidei  thee,  O  Lord,  in  our  souls 

sacramenta     confirma ;      ut  the    mysteries    of    the    true 

qui  conceptum    de    Virgine  faith  :  that  we  who  confess 

Deum    verum    et    hominem  him  that  was  conceived  of  a 

conntemur,    per     ejus    salu-  Virgin,  to  be  true  God  and 

tiferse  Eesurrectionis  poten-  true  man,  may,  by  the  power 

tiam,    ad     seternam    merea-  of  his  saving  Resurrection, 

mur  pervenire  laetitiam.  deserve  to    come  to  eternal 

joys. 


AGAINST  THE  PERSECUTORS  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

Protege  nos,  Domine,  tuis        Protect  us,  0  Lord,  while 
mysteriis  servientes  :  ut  di-    we  assist  at  thy  sacred  mys- 


FIRST  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


137 


teries  :  that  being  employed  vinis    rebus    inhaerentes,   et 

in  acts  of  religion,  we  may  corpore    tibi   famulemur   et 

serve  thee  both  in  body  and  mente.    Per  Dominum. 
mind.    Through,  <kc. 


FOR   THE  POPE. 


Be  appeased,  0  Lord,  with 
the  offering' we  have  made  : 
and  cease  not  to  protect  thy 
servant  N.,  whom  thou  hast 
been  pleased  to  appoint  Pas- 
tor over  thy  Church.  Through, 


Oblatis,  quaesumus,  Do- 
mine,  placare  muneribus  :  et 
f  amulum  tuum  N.  quern  Pas- 
torem  Ecclesiae  tuae  prseesse 
voluisti,  assidua  protectione 
guberna.    Per  Dominum. 


After  the  Communion  of  the  Priest  and  people, 
the  Choir  sings  these  beautiful  words  of  David  in 
praise  of  the  sweetness  of  the  divine  Fruit,  whom 
our  Earth  is  going  to  bring  forth,  and  who  has  just 
given  himself,  by  anticipation,  to  his  faithful  ser- 
vants. This  Earth,  which  is  ours,  is  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary  made  fruitful  by  the  dew  of  heaven,  and 
which,  as  the  Prophet  Isaias  says,  opens  and  buds 
forth  the  Saviour. 

COMMUNION. 

The  Lord  will  give  his  Dominus  dabit  benignita- 
goodness :  and  our  earth  shall  tern  :  et  terra  nostra  dabit 
yield  her  fruit.  fructum  suum. 

Then  follow  the  concluding  Prayers  of  thanks- 
giving. 


POSTCOMMUNIONS. 


May  we  receive,  O  Lord, 
thy  mercy  in  the  midst  of  thy 
temple :  that  with  due  honour 
we  may  prepare  for  the  ap- 
proaching solemnity  of  our 
reparation.    Through,  <kc. 


Suscipiamus,  Domine,  mi- 
sericordiam  tuam  in  medio 
templi  tui  :  ut  reparationis 
nostrae  ventura  solenmia 
congruis  honoribus  praeceda- 
mus.    Per  Dominum. 


138 


ADVENT. 


OF   THE   BLESSED   VIRGIN. 


Gratiam  tuam,  quaesumus, 
Domine,  mentibus  nostris  in- 
funde  :  ut  qui,  Angelo  nun- 
tiante,  Christi  Filii  tui  In- 
carnationem  cognovimus,  per 
Passionem  ejus,  et  Crucem, 
ad  Resurrectionis  gloriam 
perducamur. 


Pour  forth,  we  beseech  thee, 
O  Lord,  thy  grace  into  our 
hearts,  that  we  to  whom  the 
Incarnation  of  Christ  thy  Son 
was  made  known  by  the  mes- 
sage of  an  Angel,  may,  by  his 
Passion  and  Cross,  be  brought 
to  the  glory  of  his  Resurrec- 
tion. 


AGAINST  THE   PERSECUTORS   OF  THE   CHURCH. 


Qusesumus,  Domine  Deus 
noster :  ut  quos  divina  tribuis 
participatione  gaudere,  hu- 
manis  non  sinas  subjacere 
periculis. 


We  beseech  thee,  O  Lord 
our  God,  not  to  leave  exposed 
to  the  dangers  of  human  life, 
those  whom  thou  hast  per- 
mitted to  partake  of  these 
divine  mysteries. 


FOR  THE  POPE. 


Hsec  nos,  qusesumus  Do- 
mine, divini  Sacramenti  per- 
cept] o  protegat :  et  famulum 
tuum  ■  N.  quern  Pastorem 
Ecclesiae  tuee  prseessevoluisti, 
una  cum  commisso  sibi  grege 
salvet  semper  et  muniat. 
Per  Dominum. 


May  the  participation  of 
this  divine  Sacrament  pro- 
tect us,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Lord ;  and  always  procure 
safety  and  defence  to  thy 
servant  N.,  whom  thou  hast 
appointed  Pastor  over  thy 
Church,  together  with  the 
flock  committed  to  his  charge. 
Through,  &c. 


VESPERS. 

The  PsalmS  of  the  Sunday  are  given  above,  'page 
105.  The  Choir  chants,  with  each  Psalm,  one  of  the 
five  following  Antiphons  : 

1.  Ant.  In  ilia  die  1.  Ant.  On  that  day  the 
stillabunt  montes  dulcedi-  mountains  shall  drop  sweet- 
nem,  et  colles  fluent  lac  et  ness,  and  the  hills  shall  flow 
mel.     Alleluia.  with  milk  andhoney.  Alleluia. 

2.  Ant.     Jucundare   filia  2,  Ant.  Be  glad,  0  daugh- 


FIRST  SUNDAY  b<F  AUVEHT. 


139 


ter  of  Sion  ;  and  rejoice  ex- 
ceedingly, O  daughter  of  Je- 
rusalem.   Alleluia. 

3.  Ant.  Behold  the  Lord 
will  come,  and  all  his  Saints 
with  him  :  and  there  shall  be 
a  great  light  on  that  day. 
Alleluia. 

4.  Ant.  O  all  you  that 
thirst,  come  to  the  waters  : 
seek  the  Lord,  while  he  may 
be  found.    Alleluia. 

5.  Ant.  Behold  the  great 
Prophet  will  come,  and  him- 
self will  renew  Jerusalem. 
Alleluia. 


Sion,  ex  exsulta  satis,  filia 
Jerusalem.    Alleluia. 

3.  Ant.  Ecce  Dominus 
veniet,  et  omnes  Sancti  ejus 
cum  eo  :  et  erit  in  die  ilia 
lux  magna.    Alleluia. 

4.  Ant.  Omnes  sitien- 
tes,  venite  ad  aquas  :  quserite 
Dominum,  dum  inveniri  po- 
test.   Alleluia. 

5.  Ant.  Ecce  veniet  Pro- 
pheta  magnus,  et  ipsereno- 
vabit  Jerusalem.    Alleluia, 


CAPITULUM. 


Brethren,  it  is  now  the  hour 
for  us  to  rise  from  sleep.  For 
now  our  salvation  is  nearer 
than  when  we  believed. 


Fratres,  hora  est  jam  nos 
de  somno  surgere.  Nunc 
enim  propior  est  nostra 
salus,  quam  cum  credidimus. 


The  Hymn  Creator  dime  siderurn,  and  the  Canti- 
cle Magnificat,  above,  pages  110  and  112. 


ft.  Drop  down  dew,  ye 
heavens,  from  above,  and 
let  the  clouds  rain  the  Just 
One. 

1$.  Let  the  earth  be  opened, 
and  bud  forth  the  Saviour. 


ft.  Borate,  coeli,  desuper, 
et  nubes  pluant  Justum. 


3$.  Aperiatur  terra  et  ger- 
minet  Salvatorem. 


antiphon  of  the  Magnificat 


Fear  not,  Mary  ;  for  thou 
hast  found  favour  with  the 
Lord  :  behold  thou  shalt  con- 
ceive, and  bring  forth  a  son. 
Alleluia. 


Ne  timeas,  Maria ;  inve- 
nisti  enim  gratiam  apud  Do- 
minum :  ecce  concipies,  et 
paries  filium.    Alleluia. 


LET  US  PKAY. 

Exert,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Lord,  thy  power,  and  come  : 


OEEMtJS. 

Excita,     qusesumus,     Do- 
mine,    potentiam    tuam,    et 


140 


ADVENT. 


veni :  lit  ab  imminentibus 
peccatoruin  nostrorum  peri- 
culis,  te  mereamur  protegente, 
eripi  ;  te  liberante,  salvari. 
Qui  vivis  et  regnas  cum  Deo 
Patre  in  unitate  Spiritus 
Sancti,  Deus,  per  omnia  sae- 
cula  sseculorum. 
Amen. 


that  by  thy  protection  we 
may  be  freed  from  the  im- 
minent danger  of  our  sins, 
and  be  saved  by  thy  mercy. 
Who  livest  and  reignest  with 
God  the  Father,  in  the  unity 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  God, 
world  without  end. 
Amen. 


FIRST  MONDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


141 


MONDAY 

OF   THE   FIRST   WEEK   OF   ADVENT. 


Come,  let  us  adore  tbe 
King  our  Lord,  who  is  to 
come. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 

ck  i. 

Wash  yourselves,  be  clean, 
take  away  the  evil  of  your 
devices  from  my  eyes  :  cease 
to  do  perversely,  learn  to  do 
well :  seek  judgment,  relieve 
the  oppressed,  judge  for  the 
fatherless,  defend  the  widow. 
And  then  come,  and  accuse 
me,  saith  the  Lord.  If  your 
sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall 
be  made  as  white  as  snow  ; 
and  if  they  be  red  as  crimson, 
they  shall  be  white  as  wool. 


Regem  venturum  Domi- 
num,  venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 

Cap  I. 

Lavamini,  mundi  estote, 
auferte  malum  cogitationum 
vestrarum  ab  oculis  meis  : 
quiescite  agere  perverse,  dis- 
cite  benefacere  :  quserite 
judicium,  subvenite  oppresso, 
judicate  pupillo,  defendite 
vidnam.  Et  venite,  et  argnite 
me.  dicit  Dominus.  Si  fue- 
rint  peccata  vestra  ut  coc- 
cinum,  quasi  nix  dealbabun- 
tur  :  et  si  fuerint  rubra 
quasi  vermiculus,  velut  lana 
alba  erunt. 


The  Saviour,  who  is  so  soon  to  be  with  us  and  to 
save  us,  warns  us  not  on]y  to  prepare  ourselves  to 
appear  before  him,  bat  also  to  purify  our  souls.  "  It 
"  is  most  just,"  says  St.  Bernard,  "  that  the  soul,  which 
"  was  the  first  to  fall,  should  be  the  first  to  rise. 
"  Let  us  therefore  defer  caring  for  the  body,  until 
"  the  day  when  Jesus  Christ  will  come  and  reform  it 
"  by  the  Resurrection ;  for,  in  the  first  Coming,  the 
"  Precursor  says  to  us  :  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God, 
"  ivho  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world.  Observe, 
"  he  says  not  the  maladies  of  the  body,  nor  the  mise- 
"  ries  of  the  flesh;  he  says  sins,  which  are  the  malady 
"  of  the  sou    and  the  corruption  of  the  spirit.     Take 


142  ADVENT. 

"  heed  then,  thou  my  Body,  and  wait  for  thy  turn 
"  and  time.  Thou  canst  hinder  the  salvation  of  the 
"  soul,  and  thine  own  safety  is  not  within  thy  reach. 
"  Let  the  soul  labour  for  herself,  and  strive  thou  too 
"  to  help  her,  for  if  thou  sharest  in  her  sufferings, 
"  thou  wilt  share  in  her  glory.  Retard  her  per- 
"  fection,  and  thou  retardest  thine  own.  Thou  wilt 
"  not  be  regenerated  until  God  sees  his  own  Image 
"  restored  in  the  soul." 1  Let  us,  then,  purify  our 
souls.  Let  us  do  the  works  of  the  spirit,  not  the 
deeds  of  the  flesh.  Our  Saviour's  promise  is  most 
clear ;  he  will  turn  the  deep  dye  of  our  iniquities 
into  the  purest  whiteness.  He  asks  but  one  thing 
of  us  :  that  we  sin  no  more.  He  says  to  us  :  Cease 
to  do  perversely,  and  then  come  and  accuse  me, 
come  and  complain  against  me  if  I  do  not  cleanse 
you.  O  Jesus  !  we  will  not  defer  a  single  day  of 
this  holy  season, — we  accept,  from  this  moment,  the 
conditions  thou  offerest  us.  We  sincerely  desire  to 
make  our  peace  with  thee ;  to  bring  the  flesh  into 
subjection  to  our  spirit,  to  make  good  all  the  injus- 
tice  we  have  committed  against  our  neighbour,  and 
to  hush,  by  the  sighs  of  our  heart-felt  compunction, 
that  voice  of  our  sins  which  has  so  long  cried  to  thee 
for  vengeance, 

PROSE  FOR  THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 

(Composed  in  the  Wth  century,  and  taken  from  the  ancient 
Roman-French  Missals.) 

Salus    seterna,  indeficiens        Thou  our  eternal  salvation, 
mundi  vita.  the  never-failing  light  of  the 

world. 
Lux    sempiterna,    et    re-        Light  everlasting  and  our 
demptio  vera  nostra.  true  redemption. 

Condolens  humana  perire        Moved  with  compassion  to 
ssecla  per  tentantis  numina,      see  the   human  race  perish 

by  its  idolatry  offered  to  its 
very  tempter, 

1  Sixth  Sermon  of  Advent. 


FIKST  MONDAY  5fc  ADVENT. 


143 


Thou  didst  descend  to 
these  depths  of  our  misery, 
yet  not  leaving  thine  own 
high  throne  above. 

Then,  by  thy  own  gratui- 
tous love,  assuming  our  hu- 
man nature, 

Thou  didst  save  all  on 
earth  that  was  lost. 

Giving  joy  to  this  world. 

Come,  O  Christ,  purify 
our  souls  and  bodies, 

And  make  them  thy  own 
pure  abode. 

Justify  us  by  thy  first 
coming. 

And  in  thy  second,  deliver 
us  ; 

That  so,  when  thou  judgest 
all  things,  on  the  day  of  the 
great  light, 

We  may  be  adorned  with  a 
spotless  robe,  and  may  follow 
thy  footsteps  wheresoever 
they  are  seen.    Amen. 


Non  linquens  excelsa,  adis- 
ti  ima  propria  dementia. 


Mox  tua  spontanea  gratia 
assumens  humana, 

Quae  fuerant  perdita  om- 
nia, salvasti  terrea. 

Ferrens  mundo  gaudia. 

Tu  animas  et  corpora  nos- 
tra, Christe,  expia, 

Ut  possideas  lucida  nos- 
met  habitacula. 

Adventu  primo  justifica. 

In  secundo  nosque  libera  ; 

Ut  cum  facta  luce  magna, 
judicabis  omnia. 

Compti  stola  incorrupta, 
nosmet  tua  subsequamur 
mox  vestigia  quocumque 
visa.     Amen. 


PRAYER  FROM  THE  AMBROSIAN  BREVIARY. 

{Second  Sunday  of  Advent.) 


O  Almighty  God  !  grant, 
we  beseech  thee,  unto  all 
this  thy  family,  the  desire  of 
meeting,  by  good  works,  thy 
Son,  Christ  our  Lord,  who  is 
coming  to  us ;  that  being 
placed  on  his  right  hand,  we 
may  deserve  the  possession 
of  the  heavenly  Kingdom. 
Through  the  same  Christ 
our  Lord.    Amen. 


Dona,  quaesumus,  omnipo- 
tens  Deus,  cunctae  familiae 
tuas  hanc  voluntatem,  Christo 
Filio  tuo,  Domino  nostro 
venienti,  in  operibus  justis 
apte  occurrere  :  ut  ejus  dex- 
terae  sociati,  regnum  merea- 
mur  possidere  coeleste.  Per 
eumdem  Christum  Dominum 
nostrum.     Amen. 


144 


ADVENT. 


TUESDAY 

OF   THE   FIRST   WEEK   OF   ADVENT. 


Regem    venturum    Domi- 
num,  venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 
Cap.  II. 
Verbum,  quod  vidit  Isaias 
filius  Amos,  super  Judam  et 
Jerusalem.  Et  erit  in  novis- 
simis  diebus  prseparatus 
mons  domus  Domini  in  ver- 
tice  montium,  et  elevabitur 
super  colles  :  et  fluent  ad 
eum  omnes  Gentes.  Et 
ibunt  populi  multi,  et  di- 
cent :  Venite,  et  ascendamus 
ad  montem  Domini  et  ad 
domum  Dei  Jacob  :  et  doce- 
bit  nos  vias  suas  :  et  ambu- 
labimus  in  semitis  ejus,  quia 
de  Sion  exibit  lex,  et  verbum 
Domini  de  Jerusalem. 


Come,  let  us  adore  the 
King  our  Lord,  who  is  to 
come. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 
Ch.  II. 

The  word  that  Isaias  the 
son  of  Amos  saw  concerning 
Juda  and  Jerusalem.  And 
in  the  last  days  the  moun- 
tain of  the  house  of  the  Lord 
shall  be  prepared  on  the  top 
of  mountains,  and  it  shall  be 
exalted  above  the  hills  :  and 
all  nations  shall  flow  unto  it. 
And  many  peop]e  shall  go, 
and  say  :  Come  and  let  us 
go  up  to  the  mountain  of  the 
Lord,  and  to  the  house  of  the 
God  of  Jacob :  and  he  will 
teach  us  his  ways :  and  we 
will  walk  in  his  paths,  for 
the  law  shall  come  forth 
from  Sion,  and  the  word  of 
the  Lord  from  Jerusalem. 


How  the  Church  loves  to  hear  and  say  these  grand 
words  of  the  Prophet :  Come  let  us  go  up  to  the 
Mountain  of  the  Lord  !  She  repeats  them  in  the 
Lauds  of  every  Feria  in  Advent ;  and  her  children 
bless  the  Lord,  who,  that  we  might  have  no  difficulty 
in  finding  him,  has  made  himself  like  to  a  high 
mountain ;  high,  indeed,  yet  can  we  all  ascend 
it.  It  is  true  that,  at  first,  this  mountain  is,  as 
we   learn   from    another    Prophet,    a    small    stone 


FIRST   TUESDAY   OF   ADVENT.  145 

which  is  scarce  perceptible,  and  this  to  show  the 
humility  of  the  Messias  at  his  birth ;  but  it  soon 
becomes  great,  and  all  people  see  it,  and  are 
invited  to  dwell  on  its  fertile  slopes,  yea,  to  go  up  to 
its  very  summit,  bright  wdth  the  rays  of  the  Sun  of 
Justice.  It  is  thus,  0  Jesus,  that  thou  callest  us  all, 
and  that  thou  approachest  towards  all,  and  the  great- 
ness and  sublimity  of  thy  mysteries  are  put  within 
the  reach  of  our  littleness.  We  desire  to  join,  with- 
out delay,  that  happy  multitude  of  people  which  is 
journeying  on  towards  thee;  we  are  already  with 
them;  we  are  resolved  to  fix  our  tent  under  thy 
shadow,  O  Mountain  ever  blessed  !  There  shelter  us, 
and  let  us  be  out  of  reach  of  the  noise  of  the  world 
beneath  us.  Suffer  us  to  go  so  far  up,  that  we  may 
lose  all  sight  of  that  same  world's  vanities.  May  we 
never  forget  those  paths  which  lead  even  to  the  bliss- 
ful summit,  where  the  mountain,  the  figure,  disap- 
pears, and  the  soul  finds  herself  face  to  face  with  Him, 
whose  vision  eternally  keeps  the  Angels  in  rapture, 
and  whose  delight  is  to  be  with  the  children  of  men  !l 

HYMN   FOR  THE  TIME   OF   ADVENT. 

(Composed  in  the  9th  century,  and  taken  from  the  Hymnarium 
of  B.  Joseph- Maria  Tommasi.) 

May  the    sun,  and   stars,  Sol,  astra,  terra,  sequora, 

and    land,   and    sea,    sound  Adventum  Dei  altissimi, 

forth  the  Coming  of  the  Most  Prolem  excelsi  germinis, 

High  God:  may  the  rich  and  Dives  et  inops  concrepent : 
poor    unite    their    songs  of 
praise  to  the  Son  of  the  su- 
preme Creator  ! 

He  is  the  Saviour  promised  Olim  promissum  patribus 

to  our  fathers  ;  the  glorious  Partum  puellse  inclytum, 

offspring  of  a  Virgin;  the  Son  Natum  ante  Luciferum, 

of  the  mighty  God  born  of  Dei  potentis  Filium, 
him  before  the  Morning  Star. 

He  is  the  King  of  Glory,  Venturum  Regem  glorise, 

and  is  coming  to  rule  as  God  Deum  regnare  regibus  ; 

1  Prov.  viii.  31. 


146 


ADVENT. 


Hostem  calcare  improbum, 
Mundum  sanare  languidum. 

Laetentur  simul  Angeli, 
Omnes  exsultent  populi  ; 
Excelsus  venit  huinilis, 
Salvare  quod  perierat. 

Deus  et  homo  oritur, 
Sanctaque  regnat  Trinitas  ; 
Coaevus  Patri  Filius, 
Terris  descendit  Dominus. 

Clament  Prophetae,  et  pro- 
phetent  : 
Emmanuel  jam  prope  est ; 
Mutorum  linguae  jam  sonent, 
Claudi  in  occursum  pergite. 

Agnus  et  fera  bestia 
Simul  manducent  paleas  : 
Agnoscat  bos  et  asinus 
Jacentem  in  praesepio. 

Signum  regale  emicans 
Sacrum  praecedit  verticem  ; 
Regali  nato  nobili, 
Reges  parate  munera. 

O  quam  beatum  nuntium 
Virgo  Maria  audiit  ! 
Credendo  mater  foeta  fit, 
Et  virgo  virum  nesciit. 

Omnes  gentes  et  insulae, 
Magnum   triumphum   plau- 

dite, 
Cursu  cervorum  currite  : 
Redemptor  ecce  jam  venit. 

Discant  caecorum  oeuli, 
Clauso  sedentes  lumine, 
Noctis  tenebras  solvere, 
Lumen  verum  percipere. 

Gens  Galilaea  et  Graecia 
Credat,  Persa  et  India  : 
Dignando  Deus  homo  fit, 
Et  Verbum  cum  Patre  manet. 


over  kings,trample  our  wicked 
enemy  beneath  his  feet,  and 
heal  this  sick  world  of  ours. 

Let  the  Angels  rejoice,  let 
all  nations  exult ;  He  that  is 
high  is  coming  in  lowliness  to 
save  what  had  been  lost. 

A  God-man  is  born,  and 
the  Holy  Trinity  reigns  ;  the 
Son  co-eternal  with  the  Fa- 
ther, our  Lord,  descends  upon 
our  earth. 

Let  the  Prophets  cry  out, 
and  prophesy :  Emmanuel 
is  nigh  unto  us.  Let  the 
tongues  of  the  dumb  speak, 
and  ye,  poor  lame  ones,  run 
to  meet  him. 

Let  the  lamb  and  the  wild 
beast  feed  with  each  other  : 
let  the  ox  and  the  ass  know 
Him  that  lies  in  the  manger. 

The  royal  glittering  stan- 
dard ushers  in  our  divine 
Chief:  ye  kings,  prepare  your 
gifts  for  the  noble  and  royal 
Babe. 

0  the  blessed  message  sent 
to  the  Virgin  Mary  !  By  be- 
lieving, she  conceives  ;  she  is 
a  Mother,  and  a  Virgin  know- 
ing not  man. 

All  ye  nations  and  islands, 
applaud  this  grand  triumph. 
Run  swift  as  the  stag,  lo  !  the 
Redeemer  is  coming  ! 

Let  the  eyes  of  the  blind, 
who  have  been  sitting  in 
darkness,  now  learn  to  throw 
off  the  murky  night,  and 
open  to  the  true  light. 

Let  Galilee,  and  Greece, 
and  Persia,  and  India,  receive 
the  faith:  a  God  deigns  to 
become  man,  and  remains 
the  Word  with  the  Father. 


FIRST    TUESDAY   OF  ADVENT. 


147 


Praise,  honour,  power, 
glory,  be  to  God  the  Father, 
and  to  the  Son,  together  with 
the  Holy  Ghost,  for  eternal 


Amen. 


Laus,  honor,  virtus,  gloria, 
Deo  Patri,  et  Pilio, 
Una  cum  Sancto  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  saecula. 

Amen. 


PRAYER  FROM   THE   GALLICAN  MISSAL. 
{In  Adventu  Domini,  Contestatio.) 


O  God,  whose  nature*  and 
property  is  goodness,  and 
with  whom  there  is  no  change, 
be  propitious  to  our  prayers, 
and  show  to  thy  Church  that 
mercy  of  thine  which  we 
confess  :  show  to  thy  people 
the  wonderful  mystery  of  thy 
Only-Begotten  Son  :  that 
thus,  what  thou  hast  pro- 
mised by  the  Gospel  of  thy 
Word,  may  be  fulfilled  by  all 
nations  coming  to  the  faith, 
and  the  testimony  of  truth 
be  verified  by  the  completion 
of  adoption.  Through  Christ 
our  Lord.     Amen. 


Deus,  cui  proprium  est  ac 
singulare,  quod  bonus  es,  et 
nulla  unquam  a  te  es  com- 
mutatione  diversus ;  pro- 
pitiare  supplicationibus  nos- 
tris  ;  et  Ecclesise  tuae  mise- 
ricordiam  tuam,  quam  confi- 
temur,  ostende,  manifestans 
plebi  tuse  Unigeniti  tui  mi- 
rabile  Sacramentum :  ut  uni- 
versitate  nationum  perficia- 
tur,  quod  per  Verbi  tui  Evan- 
gelium  promisisti  \  et  habeat 
plenitudo  adoptionis,  quod 
prsetulit  testificatio  veritatis. 
Per  Christum  Dominum  nos- 
trum.    Amen. 


148 


ADVENT. 


WEDNESDAY 

OF   THE   FIRST    WEEK   OF   ADVENT. 


Kegem    venturum    Domi- 
num,  venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 
Cap.  III. 
Ecce  enim  dominatur  Do- 
minus  exercituum  auferet  a 
J  erusalem  et  a  Juda  validum 
et  f  ortem,  omne  robur  panis, 
et  omne  robur  aquae  ;  fortem, 
virum  bellatorem,  judicem  et 
prophetam,  et  ariolum,  et 
senem  principem  super  quin- 
quaginta,  et  honorabilem 
vultu,  et  consiliarium,  et  sa- 
pientem  de  architectis,  et 
prudentem  eloquii  mystici. 
Et  dabo  pueros  principes 
eorum  ;  et  effoaminati  domi- 
nabuntur  eis.  Ruit  enim 
Jerusalem,  et  Judas  conci- 
dit,  quia  lingua  eorum  et  ad- 
inventiones  eorum  contra 
Dominum,  provocarunt  ocu- 
los  majestatis  ejus.  Agnitio 
vultus  eorum  respondit  eis, 
et  peccatum  suum  quasi  So- 
doma  prsedicaverunt,  nee 
absconderunt.  Ya3  animse 
eorum,  quoniam  reddita  sunt 
eis  mala  !  Dicite  justo  quo- 
niam bene,  quoniam  fructum 
adinventionum  suarum  co- 
medat.  Vae  impio  in  malum  ! 


Come,  let  us  adore  the 
King  our  Lord,  who  is  to 
come. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 
Ch.  III. 

For  behold  the  sovereign 
the  Lord  of  hosts  shall  take 
away  from  Jerusalem  and 
from  Juda  the  valiant  and 
the  strong,  the  whole  strength 
of  bread,  and  the  whole 
strength  of  water ;  the  strong 
man,  and  the  man  of  war,  the 
judge  and  the  prophet,  and 
the  cunning  man,  and  the 
ancient,  the  captain  over 
fifty,  and  the  honourable  in 
countenance,  and  the  coun- 
sellor, and  the  architect,  and 
the  skilful  in  eloquent  speech. 
And  I  will  give  children  to 
be  their  princes ;  and  the 
effeminate  shall  rule  over 
them.  For  Jerusalem  is 
ruined,  and  Juda  is  fallen, 
because  their  tongue  and 
their  devices  are  against  the 
Lord,  to  provoke  the  eyes  of 
his  majesty.  The  show  of 
their  countenance  hath  an- 
swered them,  and  they  have 
proclaimed  abroad  their  sin 
as  Sodom,  and  they  have  not 
hid  it.    Wo  to  their  souls,  for 


FIRST  WEDNESDAY  OF  ADVENT.  149 

evils  are  rendered  to  them  !     retributio  enim  mammm  ej  us 

Say  to  the  just  man  that  it    fiet  ei. 

is  well,  for  he  shall  eat  the 

fruit  of  his  doings.     Wo  to 

the  wicked  unto   evil !    for 

the  reward  of  his  hands  shall 

be  given  him. 

Jerusalem  is  tending  to  her  destruction ;  there- 
fore she  is  losing  all  power,  and,  with  the  rest,  the 
power  of  understanding.  She  no  longer  knows 
whither  she  is  going,  and  she  sees  not  the  abyss  into 
which  she  is  plunging.  Such  are  all  those  men,  who 
never  give  a  thought  to  the  Coming  of  the  Sovereign 
Judge ;  they  are  men  of  whom  Moses  said  in  his  Can- 
ticle :  They  are  a  nation  without  counsel  and  with- 
out wisdom  :  0  that  they  would  be  wise  and  would 
understand,,  and  would  provide  for  their  last  end ! 
The  Son  of  God  comes  now  in  the  swaddling-clothes 
of  a  weak  Babe,  in  the  humility  of  a  servant,  and,  to 
speak  with  the  Prophets,  as  the  dew  which  falls  softly 
drop  by  drop ;  but  it  will  not  always  be  so.  This 
earth  also,  which  now  is  the  scene  of  our  sins  and  our 
hardheartedness,  will  perish  before  the  face  of  the 
angry  Judge;  and  if  we  have  made  it  the  one  object  of 
our  love,  to  what  shall  we  then  cling  ?  "A  sudden 
"  death  which  has  happened  in  your  presence,"  says 
St.  John  Chrysostom,  "  or  an  earthquake,  or  the  bare 
"  threat  of  some  dire  calamity,  terrify  and  prostrate 
"you  :  what  then  shall  it  be  when  the  whole  earth 
"  shall  sink  beneath  your  feet ;  when  you  shall  see 
"  all  nature  in  disorder ;  when  you  shall  hear  the 
"sound  of  the  last  trumpet;  when  the  Sovereign 
"  Master  of  the  universe  shall  appear  before  you  in 
"  the  fulness  of  his  Majesty  ?  Perchance,  you  have 
"  seen  criminals  dragged  to  punishment :  did  they 
"  not  seem  to  die  twenty  times  before  they  reached 
"  the  place  of  execution,  and  before  the  executioner 
"  could  lay  his  hands  on  them,  fear  had  crushed  out 


150 


ADVENT. 


"  life?"  Oh  !  the  terror  of  that  Last  Day  !  How  is 
it  that  men  can  expose  themselves  to  such  misery, 
when,  to  avoid  it,  they  have  but  to  open  their  hearts 
to  Him,  who  is  now  coming  to  them  in  gentlest 
love,  asking  them  to  give  him  a  place  in  their  souls, 
and  promising  to  shelter  them  from  the  wrath  to 
come  if  they  will  but  receive  him  !  O  Jesus,  who 
can  withstand  thy  anger  at  the  Last  Day?  Now 
thou  art  our  Brother,  our  Friend,  a  Little  Child  who 
is  to  be  born  for  us  :  we  will  therefore  make  cove- 
nant with  thee  ;  so  that,  loving  thee  now  in  thy  first 
Coming,  we  may  not  fear  thee  in  the  second.  When 
thou  comest  in  that  second  one,  bid  thy  Angels 
approach  us,  and  say  to  us  those  thrilling  words  : 
It  is  well ! 


HYMN   OF   ADVENT. 


{Roman  Breviary,  in  the  Office  of  Matins.) 


Verbuni    supernum    pro- 
diens 
E  Patris  aeterni  sinu, 
Qui  natus  orbi  sub  vein's, 
Labente  cursu  temporis. 

Illumina  nunc  peetora, 
Tuoque  amore  concrenia, 
Ut  cor  caduca  deserens 
Cceli  voluptas  inipleat. 


Ut  cum  tribunal  Judicis 
Damnabit  igni  noxios, 
Et  vox  arnica  debitum 
Vocabit  ad  cceluni  pios. 

Non  esca  nammarum  ni- 
gros 
Volvamur  inter  turbines  ; 
Vultu  Dei  sed  compotes 
Cceli  fruamur  gaudiis. 


0  sovereign  Word,  begotten 
of  the  bosom  of  the  eternal 
Father,  yet  born  in  the  fleet- 
ing course  of  time,  thou  bring- 
est  succour  to  the  world. 

Enlighten  now  our  hearts, 
and  inflame  them  with  thy 
love,  that,  being  detached 
from  earthly  things,  they  may 
be  filled  with  the  joys  of  hea- 
ven. 

That  when  from  his  tribu- 
nal the  Judge  shall  condemn 
the  wicked  to  the  flames,  and 
lovingly  call  the  good  to  the 
heaven  they  have  won, 

We  may  not  be  hurled  into 
the  dark  pool  of  fire,  but,  ad- 
mitted to  the  Vision  of  God, 
may  enjoy  the  bliss  of  heaven. 


FIRST  WEDNESDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


151 


To  the  Father,  and  to  the 
Son,  and  to  thee,  0  Holy 
Ghost,  may  there  ever  be,  as 


there  ever  hath  been, 
for  ever  and  ever. 
Amen. 


glory 


Patri,  simulque  Filio, 
Tibique,  Sancte  Spiritus, 
Sicut  f uit  sit  jugiter 
Saeclum  per  omne  gloria. 

Amen. 


PRAYER  FROM  THE  MOZARABIC   MISSAL. 
{In  the  Mass  of  the  Fourth  Sunday  of  Advent,  Illation.) 


It  is  meet  and  just,  and 
available  to  us  in  all  things, 
that  we  always  should  extol, 
by  all  possible  praises,  thy 
clemency,  O   Almighty  Fa- 
ther ;  who  didst  create  us  in 
holiness  and  nobleness,  and, 
when  the  fraud  of  the  old 
serpent  had  seduced  us,  didst 
"in  pure  mercy  deliver  us  from 
death.    Thou  didst  foretel,  in 
past  ages,  that  the  Son,  whom 
thou  wast  to  send  in  the  flesh 
for  us,  would  come  on  this 
earth  and  would  be  born  of  a 
Virgin,  and  by  thy  holy  pro- 
phets didst  foretel  the  advent 
of  his  birth  ;  and  this  to  the 
end  that  he,  who  had  been 
promised,  having  been  long 
expected,   might   give   great 
joy  to   the  world  when   he 
should  come  in  the  fulness  of 
time.  Wherefore  we  pray  and 
beseech  thee,  that  thou,  who 
didst  not  suffer  thy  creature 
to  perish,  because  thou  art 
truly  compassionate  and  mer- 
ciful, but  didst  restore  what 
was  lost  by  the  humble  com- 
ing of  thy  Son,  wouldst  now 
so  protect,  so  keep,  so  heal, 
so  defend,  so  free,  what  thou 
hast  found  and  repaired  and 
restored,  that  in  that  dread 


Dignum    et    justum    est, 
vere  et  nobis  per  omnia  expe- 
dibile,  tuam  nos  clementiam, 
omnipotens    Pater,     quibus 
possumus    semper    laudibus 
prsedicare ;  qui  bonitate  nos 
ingenuitateque  condidisti  ac 
serpentis  antiqui  fraude  de- 
cepti,  gratuita  miseratione  a 
morte  velis  eripere  ;  qui  Fi- 
liuni  tuum,  quern  pro  nobis 
in  carne  missurus  eras  ad  ter- 
ras venturum  nasciturumque 
de  Virgine  longe  antea  prae- 
dixisti,  ejus  nativitatis  adven- 
tum   prsetonantibus    Sanctis 
prsenuntiasti  ;  ut  exspectatus 
diu  qui  fuerat  repromissus, 
magnum  mundo  faceret  gau- 
dium  in  plenitudine  tempo- 
rum  prsesentatus.  Unde  peti- 
mus  et  rogamus  ut  qui  plasma 
tuum,  sicut  vere  plus  et  mise- 
ricors,  perire  non  passus  es  ; 
sed  per  humilem  adventum 
Filii  tui  Domini  nostri,  quod 
perierat  revocasti  ;  quod  jam 
inventum   et    reparatum    ac 
revocatum  est,  sic  protegas, 
sic   custodias,  sic  sanes,  sic 
defendas,  sic  liberes  :  ut  in 
illo  adventu  terribili  quo  ite- 
rato  illos  venturus  est  judi- 
care,  a  quibus  et  pro  quibus 
est  judicatus,  tales  inveniat 


152 


ADVENT. 


quos  redemit,  ut  in  aeternum 
possideat  quos  pretio  sui  san- 
guinis acquisivit. 


coming  whereby  thy  Son  shall 
come  a  second  time,  to  judge 
those  by  whom  and  for  whom 
he  himself  was  judged,  he 
may  so  find  the  creatures  that 
he  has  redeemed,  that  he  may 
eternally  possess  those  whom 
he  purchased  with  the  price 
of  his  blood. 


FIEST  THURSDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


153 


THURSDAY 

OF   THE   FIRST  WEEK   OF   ADVENT. 


Come,  let  us  adore  the  King 
our  Lord,  who  is  to  come. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 
Gh.  V. 

I  will  sing  to  my  beloved 
the  canticle  of  my  cousin 
concerning  his  vineyard. 
My.  beloved  had  a  vineyard 
on  a  hill,  in  a  fruitful  place. 
And  he  fenced  it  in,  and 
picked  the  stones  out  of  it, 
and  planted  it  with  the 
choicest  wines,  and  built  a 
tower  in  the  midst  thereof, 
and  set  up  a  wine  press  there- 
in :  and  he  looked  that  it 
should  bring  forth  grapes, 
and  it  brought  forth  wild 
grapes.  And  now,  O  ye  in- 
habitants of  Jerusalem,  and 
ye  men  of  Juda,  judge  be- 
tween me  and  my  vineyard. 
What  is  there  that  I  ought  to 
do  more  to  my  vineyard,  that 
I  have  not  done  to  it  1  Was 
it  that  I  looked  that  it  should 
bring  forth  grapes,  and  it 
hath  brought  forth  wild 
grapes  1  And  now  I  will 
show  you  what  I  will  do  to 
my  vineyard :  I  will  take 
away  the  hedge  thereof,  and 
it  shall  be  wasted  ;  I  will 
break  down  the  wall  thereof, 
and  it  shall  be  trodden  down. 
And  I  will  make  it  desolate  : 


Regem    venturum    Domi- 
num,  venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 
Cap.  V. 
Cantabo  dilecto  meo  can- 
ticum  patruelis  mei  vinese 
suae.  Vinea  facta  est  dilecto 
meo  in  cornu  filio  olei.  Et 
sepivit  earn,  et  lapides  elegit 
ex  ilia,  et  plantavit  earn 
electam,  et  aeclificavit  turrim 
in  medio  ejus  et  torcular 
extruxit  in  ea  :  et  exspec- 
tavit  ut  faceret  uvas,  et  fecit 
labruscas.  Nunc  ergo  habi- 
tatores  Jerusalem,  et  viri 
Juda,  judicate  inter  me  et 
vineam  meam.  Quid^  est 
quodclebui  ultra  facere  vinese 
meae,  et  non  feci  ei  ]  an  quod 
exspectavi  ut  faceret  uvas,  et 
fecit  labruscas?  Et  nunc 
ostendam  vobis  quid  ego 
faciam  vineae  meae  :  auferam 
sepem  ejus,  et  erit  in  direp- 
tionem ;  diruam  maceriam 
ejus,  et  erit  in  conculcatio- 
nem.  Et  ponam  earn  deser- 
tam  :  non  putabitur,  et  non 
fodietur,  et  ascendent  vepres 
et  spinae,  etnubibusmandabo 
ne  pluant  super  earn  imbrem. 
Vinea  enim  Domini  exerci- 
tuum  domus  Israel  est,  et  vir 
Juda  germen  ejus  delectabile 
et  exspectavi  ut  faceret  judi- 


154  ADVENT. 

cium,  et  ecce  iniquitas  ;    et    it  shall  not  be  pruned,  and  it 
i  ustitiam,  et  ecce  clamor.  shall  not  be  digged,  but  briars 

and  thorns  shall  come  up,  and 
I  will  command  the  clouds  to 
rain  no  rain  upon  it.  For 
the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  of 
hosts  is  the  house  of  Israel, 
and  the  man  of  Juda  his 
pleasant  plant :  and  I  looked 
that  he  should  do  judgment, 
and  behold  iniquity  ;  and  do 
justice,  and  behold  a  cry. 

We  are  awaiting  the  Birth  of  a  Child  who  is  to 
appear  seven  hundred  years  after  the  time  of  Isaias ; 
and  this  Child  will  be  the  world's  Saviour.  Men 
will  persecute  him,  load  him  with  calumnies  and 
injuries,  and,  but  a  few  hours  before  they  crucify  him, 
they  shall  hear  this  parable  from  his  lips  :  There  was 
a  man,  a  householder,  who  planted  a  vineyard,  and 
made  a  hedge  round  about  it,  and,  dug  in  it  a  press, 
and  built  a  tower,  and  let  it  out  to  husbandmen  : 
and  went  into  a  strange  country.  And  ivhen  the 
time  of  the  fruits  drew  nigh,  he  sent  his  servants  to 
the  husbandmen,  that  they  might  receive  the  fruits 
thereof  And  the  husbandmen  laying  hands  on  his 
servants,  beat  one,  and  killed  another,  and  stoned 
another.  Again  he  sent  other  servants  more  than 
the  former ;  and  they  did  to  them  in  like  manner. 
And  last  of  all,  he  sent  to  them  his  son,  saying  : 
They  will  reverence  my  son.1  See,  Christians,  this 
Son  is  coming  to  you.  Will  you  reverence  him  ? 
Will  you  treat  him  as  the  Son  of  God,  with  that 
honour  and  love  which  are  due  to  him  ?  Take 
notice  of  the  wickedness  of  men  ;  it  has  a  progress 
in  malice.  In  the  days  of  Isaias,  the  Jews  despised 
the  Prophets ;  but  the  Prophets,  though  sent  by 
God,  were  only  men.     The  Son  of  God  came,  and 

1  St.  Matth.  xxi.  33-37. 


FIRST   THURSDAY   OF  ADVENT.  155 

they  would  not  acknowledge  him ;  a  far  greater 
crime,  assuredly,  than  to  stone  the  Prophets.  What, 
then,  would  be  the  crime  of  Christians,  who  not 
only  acknowledge  him  who  is  now  coming  to  them, 
but  are  his  members  by  Baptism,  if  they  will  not 
open  their  hearts  to  this  Messias,  whom  the  Father  is 
sending  into  the  vineyard  \  What  punishment 
would  not  the  ungrateful  vine  deserve,  planted,  as  it 
has  been,  with  so  much  love,  should  it  persist  in 
yielding  nothing  but  bitter  fruit  ?  Ah,  dear  Jesus  ! 
let  not  this  be  :  make  us  generous  :  make  us  produce 
abundant  flower  and  fruit  for  the  day  of  thy  Coming, 
which  is  so  near  at  hand. 


PRAYER  OF  THE  CHURCHES  OF  FRANCE  DURING 
ADVENT. 

{Taken  from  the  Prophet  Isaias.) 

Drop  down   dew,  ye  hea-  Borate,  coeli,  desuper,    et 

vens,  from  above,  and  let  the  nubes  pluant  Justum. 
clouds  rain  the  Just  One. 

Be  not  angry,  0  Lord,  and  Ne  irascaris,  Domine,  ne 

remember  no  longer  our  ini-  ultra  memineris  iniquitatis  : 

quity  :  behold  the  city  of  thy  ecc'e  civitas  Sancti  facta  est 

Sanctuary  is  become  a  desert,  deserta,  Sion   deserta    facta 

Sion  is  made  a  desert.    Jeru-  est,  Jerusalem  desolata  est, 

salem  is  desolate,  the  house  domus  sanctificationis  nostra? 

of  our  holiness  and  of  thy  et  gloria?  tuse,  ubi  laudave- 

glory,    where    our     fathers  runt  te  patres  nostri. 
praised  thee. 

Drop   down  dew,  ye  hea-  Borate,   cceli,    desuper,  et 

vens,  from  above,  and  let  the  nubes  pluant  Justum. 
clouds  rain  the  Just  One. 

We  have  sinned,  and  we  are  Peccavimus,   et    facti    su- 

become  as  one  unclean,  and  mus     tamquam    immundus 

we  have  all  fallen  as  a  leaf ;  nos,   et  cecidimus  quasi  f o- 

and  our  iniquities,  like  the  hum  universi ;  et  iniquitates 

wind,  have  taken  us  away  :  nostra?  quasi  ventus  abstule- 

thou  hast  hid  thy  face  from  runt  nos  :  abscondisti  faciem 

us,  and  hast  crushed  us  by  tuam  a  nobis,  et  allisisti  nos 

the  hand  of  our  iniquity.  in  manu  iniquitatis  nostra?. 


156 


ADVENT. 


Borate,  coeli,  desuper,  et 
nubes  pluant  Justum. 

Vide,  Domine,  afflictionem 
populi  tui,  et  emitte  quern 
missurus  es.  Emitte  Agnum 
dominatorem  terrse  de  petra 
deserti  ad  montem  filise  Sion, 
ut  auferat  ipse  jugum  cap- 
tivitatis  nostras. 


Borate,  cceli,  desuper,  et 
nubes  pluant  Justum. 

Consolamini,  consolamini, 
popule  meus :  cito  veniet 
salus  tua :  quare  moerore 
consumeris]  quare  compre- 
liendit  te  dolor]  Salvabo 
te  ;  noli  timere  :  ego  enim 
sum  Dominus  Deus  tuus, 
Sanctus  Israel,  Bedemptor 
tuus. 

Rorate,  coeli,  desuper,  et 
nubes  pluant  Justum. 


Drop  down  dew,  ye  hea- 
vens, from  above,  and  let  the 
clouds  rain  the  Just  One. 

See,  O  Lord,  the  affliction 
of  thy  people,  and  send  Him 
whom  thou  hast  promised  to 
send.  Send  forth  the  Lamb, 
the  ruler  of  the  earth,  from 
the  rock  of  the  desert  to  the 
mount  of  the  daughter  of 
Sion,  that  himself  may  take 
off  the  yoke  of  our  captivity. 

Drop  down  dew,  ye  hea- 
vens, from  above,  and  let  the 
clouds  rain  the  Just  One. 

Be  comforted,  be  com- 
forted, my  people  •  thy  sal- 
vation shall  speedily  come  : 
why  wilt  thou  waste  away  in 
sadness  1  why  hath  sorrow 
seized  thee  1 1  will  save  thee  ; 
fear  not  :  for  I  am  the  Lord 
thy  God,  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel,  thy  Bedeemer. 

Drop  down  dew,  ye  hea- 
vens, from  above,  and  let  the 
clouds  rain  the  Just  one. 


PRAYER    FROM   THE   AMBROSIAN   MISSAL. 


{Fourth  Sun 

Omnipotens  sempiterne 
Deus,  qui  per  Adventum 
unigeniti  Filii  tui  Domini 
nostri  Jesu  Christi  nova  luce 
radiare  dignatus  es,  concede 
nobis,  ut  sicut  eum  per  Vir- 
ginis  partum  in  forma  nostri 
corporis  meruimus  habere 
participem,  ita  et  in  regno 
gratiae  ejus  mereamur  esse 
consortes,  qui  tecum  vivit  et 
regnat  in  ssecula  sseculorum. 

Amen. 


day  of  Advent.) 

Almighty  and  everlasting 
God,  who,  by  the  Coming  of 
thine  only  begotten  Son  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  didst 
deign  to  shine  on  us  with  a 
new  light ;  grant  unto  us, 
that  as  we  deserved  to  have 
him  as  our  companion  in  the 
form  of  our  body,  by  the 
Birth  the  Virgin  gave  him  ; 
so  also  we  may  merit  to  be 
his  companions  in  the  king- 
dom of  his  grace  :  who  liveth 
and  reigneth  with  thee  for 
ever  and  ever.    Amen. 


FIRST   FRIDAY   OF   ADVENT. 


157 


FRIDAY 

OF   THE   FIRST  WEEK  OF   ADVENT. 


Come,  let  us  adore  the  King 
our  Lord,  who  is  to  come. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 
Ch.  VI. 

In  the  year  that  King  Ozias 
died,  I  saw  the  Lord  sitting 
upon  a  throne  high  and  ele- 
vated :  and  his  train  filled  the 
temple.  Upon  it  stood  the 
Seraphim  :  the  one  had  six 
wings,  and  the  other  had  six 
wings :  with  two  they  covered 
his  face,  and  with  two  they 
covered  his  feet,  and  with 
two  they  flew.  And  they 
cried  one  to  another,  and 
said  :  Holy,  Holy,  Holy  the 
Lord  God  of  Hosts  :  all  the 
earth  is  full  of  his  glory. 


Regem    venturum    Domi- 
lium,  venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 
Cap.  VI. 
In  anno,  quo  mortuus  est 
rex  Ozias,  vidi  Dominum  se- 
dentem  super  solium  excel- 
sum  et  elevatum  :  et  ea  quae 
sub  ipso  erant,  replebant 
templum.  Seraphim  stabant 
super  illud  :  sex  alas  uni,  et 
sex  alse  alteri :  duabus  vela- 
bant  faciem  ejus,  et  duabus 
velabant  pedes  ejus,  et  dua- 
bus volabant.  Et  clamabant 
alter  ad  alterum,  et  dicebant : 
Sanctus,  Sanctus,  Sanctus 
Dominus  Deus  exercituum  : 
plena  est  omnis  terra  gloria 
ejus. 

Such  is  the  glory  of  the  Lord  in  the  highest 
heavens  :  who  could  see  it  and  live  ?  But  now,  con- 
template this  same  Lord  upon  our  earth,  during  the 
days  which  have  dawned  upon  us.  The  womb  of  a 
Virgin  contains  Him,  whom  heaven  cannot  contain. 
To  Angels  his  beauty  is  visible,  but  it  dazzles  them 
not;  to  men,  it  is  not  even  visible.  Not  a  single 
voice  is  heard  saying  unto  him  those  words  of 
heaven:  Holy,  Holy,  Holy  is  the  Lord  God  of  Hosts! 
The  Angels  no  longer  say  of  him :  All  the  earth  is 
full  of  his  glory  ;  for  the  earth  is  witness  of  his 
abasement,  and  an  abasement  so  abject  and  low, 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  do  not  even  know 


158  ADVENT. 

it.  At  first,  there  was  but  one  who  knew  the  divine 
secret^ — the  Virgin  Mother;  after  her,  Elizabeth  was 
admitted  to  know  that  her  cousin  was  Mother  of 
God ;  and  then,  after  the  most  painful  and  humiliat- 
ing suspicions,  the  great  mystery  was  revealed  by  an 
Angel  to  Joseph.  So  that  only  three  on  earth  know 
that  God  has  come  down  upon  it !  Thus  humbly  did 
he  re-enter  the  world,  after  the  sin  of  pride  had  driven 
him  out  of  it.  O  God  of  the  ancient  Covenant,  how 
great  thou  art !  and  who  would  not  tremble  before 
thee  ?  O  God  of  the  new  Covenant,  how  little  thou 
hast  made  thyself!  who  would  not  love  thee  ?  Heal 
my  pride,  the  source  of  all  my  sins!  teach  me  to  value 
what  thou  didst  so  much  value.  By  thy  Incarnation 
thou  dost  a  second  time  create  the  world;  and  in  this 
second  creation,  more  excellent  than  the  first,  thou 
workest  by  silence,  and  thy  triumph  is  won  by  self- 
annihilation.  I  wish  to  humble  myself  after  thine 
example,  and  to  profit  by  the  lessons  which  a  God 
came  down  so  low  to  give  me.  Lay  low  all  that  is 
high  and  lifted  up  within  me,  0  my  Jesus,  for  this 
is  one  of  the  ends  of  thy  Coming.  I  abandon  myself 
to  thee,  as  to  my  Sovereign  Master !  do  with  me  and 
in  me  what  thou  wilt. 

HYMN  TAKEN  FEOM  THE  ANTHOLOGIA  OF  THE  GKEEKS. 

{December  23.) 

Antefestalia  cantica  Chris-  Let  us  sing,  in  gladness 
ti  nativitatis  mentis  alacri-  of  heart,  the  canticles  of  the 
tate  praecanamus ;  nam  qui  Pre-Vigil  of  the  Birth  of 
Patri  et  Spiritui  est  aequalis,  Christ ;  for  he,  who  is  co- 
per misericordiam  commi-  equal  with  the  Father  and 
serans,  massam  indutus  luti  the  Spirit,  having,  in  his 
nasci  debet  in  Bethlehem  great  compassion  for  our 
civitate  ;  cujus  Nativitatem  miseries,  clothed  himself  with 
ineffabilem  pastores  cum  the  leaven  of  our  clay,  is  to 
Angelis  hymnificabunt.  be  born  in  the  city  of  Beth- 

lehem ;  and  shepherds  with 
Angels  will  hymn  his  ineffa- 
ble Birth. 


FIKST  FKIDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


159 


Let  us  play  loud  on  our 
cymbals,  let  us  shout  our 
songs  of  victory ;  Christ  is  to 
appear  visibly;  the  predic- 
tions of  the  Prophets  are  ful- 
filled ;  He,  who  they  foretold 
would  appear  amongst  mor- 
tals, is  to  be  born  in  a  holy 
cave,  and  to  lie  in  a  crib  a 
little  child. 

Get  thou  ready,  0  Beth- 
lehem !  Eden,  open  thy 
gates  !  Land  of  Juda,  put 
on  thy  best !  Let  the  heavens 
be  glad,  let  men  exult !  To 
enrich  the  poverty  of  Adam 
by  the  abundance  of  his 
mercy,  Life  is  in  that  crib, 
the  Rich  One  is  in  that  cave, 
yet  the  Divine  Nature  suffers 
no  change  nor  confusion. 

From  the  dawn  of  day  I 
watch  for  thee,  who,  in  mercy 
for  fallen  man,  didst  empty 
thyself,  yet  still  remaining 
God,  and  didst  take  from  a 
Virgin  the  form  of  a  servant, 
O  thou  Word  of  God,  O 
Lover  of  men !  I  beseech 
thee,  give  me  peace. 

Let  the  clouds  drop  down 
dew  from  on  high.  He  who 
puts  the  clouds  in  the  air,  he 
the  adorable  God,  has  de- 
scended in  a  cloud,  and  that 
cloud  is  the  Virgin  :  he  has 
done  this,  that  light  everlast- 
ing may  shine  from  him  on 
those  who  heretofore  were  in 
darkness  and  peril. 

O  most  sweet  Child,  how 
shall  I  feed  thee  ?  said  the 
Blessed  Lady.  How  shall  I 
take  thee  into  my  arms,  thou 
that  holdest  all  things  in  thy 
power1?     How  shall  I  wrap 


In  cymbalis  resonemus,  in 
canticis  alalagmum  person  e- 
mus.  Christi  manifestatur 
ostensio,  prophetarum  finem 
habuerunt  praeconia  ;  quern 
enim  inter  mortales  dixerunt 
appariturum  nascitur  in  sanc- 
ta  spelunca,  et  in  praesepio 
reclinatur  ut  infans. 

Bethlehem,  praeparare  ; 
Eden,  aperire  ;  omnis  terra 
Juda,  nunc  adornare,  laeten- 
tur  cceli,  exsultent  homines  : 
in  praesepio  vita,  in  spelunca 
dives,  advenit  per  miseri- 
cordiae  multituclinem  pau- 
pertatem  Adam  restaurare, 
absque  mutatione  vel  con- 
fusione. 

Ad  te  de  luce  vigilo,  qui 
per  misericordiam  teipsum 
pro  homine  lapso  exinanisti 
sine  mutatione,  et  servi  for- 
mam  ex  Virgine  tulisti,  Ver- 
bum  Dei,  pacem  da  mihi, 
Philanthrope. 


Stillent  ex  alto  aquam  ne- 
bulas ;  qui  nubes  posuit  de- 
scendit  ipse  adorandus  in 
nebula  Virgine,  ut  luceat  ab 
eo  lumen  inocciduum  his  qui 
anteain  tenebris  periculisque 
erant. 


O  dulcissimum  Puerum, 
quomodo  nutriam  te  %  Quo- 
modo  te  apprehendam,  qui 
omnia  nuto  tuo  tenes  1  Quo- 
modo te  f asciis  involvam,  qui 
omnem  terram  involvis  ne- 


160 


ADVENT. 


bula  1  clamabat  sancta  Do- 


Sol,  fili  mi,  quo  modo  re- 
condam  te  fasciis?_  Quo- 
modo  retinebo  te  qui  omnia 
contiues  1  Quomodo  te  sine 
metu  intueri  potero,  quern 
non  audent  contemplari  qui 
multos  habent  oculos  1  aie- 
bat  Christum  tenens  nupti- 
nescia. 

Bethlehem,  adesdum,  prae- 
para  quae  ad  partum  perti- 
nent. I,  Joseph,  inscribere 
cum  Maria  ;  venerandum 
praesepium,  Deiferse  fasciae ; 
ubi  Vita  involuta  mortis 
funes  disrumpet,  alligans  im- 
mortalitati  mortales,  Chris- 
tus  Deus  noster. 


thee  in  swathing  bands,  thou 
that  coverest  the  whole  earth 
with  clouds  1 

My  Babe,  said  the  Virgin 
Mother  of  Christ,  how  shall 
I  hide  thee,  bright  Sun,  in 
swaddling  clothes  1  How 
shall  I  so  imprison  thee  that 
holdest  all  things'?  Shall  I 
be  able  to  fix  my  gaze  on 
thee,  whom  the  many-eyed 
spirits  dare  not  look  upon  1 

Get  ready,  then,  O  Beth- 
lehem, all  that  is  needed 
for  the  Birth.  And  thou, 
Joseph,  go  and  be  enrolled 
with  Mary.  O  Crib  ever 
venerable  !  O  ye  Bands  that 
swathe  our  God,  holding  in 
your  folds  the  Life  that 
breaks  the  bands  of  death, 
and  ties  us  mortals  to  immor- 
tality, Christ  Jesus  our  God. 


PRAYER   FROM   THE   MOZARABIC  MISSAL. 

{In  the  Mass  of  the  Fifth  Sunday  of  Advent.) 


In  proximo  quidem  est, 
Domine,  Dies  adventus  tui  : 
sed  quaesumus  ut,  antequam 
venias,  expiari  mereamur  ab 
omni  contagion  e  delicti. 
Prius  dilue,  rogamus  in  nobis 
omne  quod  in  ilia  futura  ex- 
aminatione  puniturus  es  ;  ut 
cum  Justus  adveneris  judex, 
non  in  nobis  invenias  quod 
condemnes. 


The  day  of  thy  Coming,  O 
Lord,  is  near,  indeed,  at 
hand ;  but  before  thou  com- 
est,  we  beseech  thee  make  us 
worthy  to  be  purified  from 
every  contagion  of  sin.  First 
remove  from  us,  we  entreat 
thee,  whatsoever  there  is  in 
us  which  thou  wouldst  have 
to  punish  in  that  future  ex- 
amination ;  that  so,  when 
thou  comest  as  our  just 
Judge,  thou  may  est  find 
naught  in  us  to  condemn. 


FIRST   SATURDAY   OF  ADVENT. 


161 


SATUKDAY 

OF  THE  FIRST  WEEK  OF   ADVENT. 


Come,  let  us  adore  the 
King  our  Lord,  who  is  to 
come. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 
Ch.    VII. 

And  the  Lord  spoke  again 
to  Achaz,  saying  :  Ask  thee  a 
sign  of  the  Lord  thy  God, 
either  unto  the  depth  of  hell, 
or  unto  the  height  above. 
And  Achaz  said :  I  will  not 
ask,  and  I  will  not  tempt  the 
Lord.  And  he  said  :  Hear 
ye,  therefore,  O  house  of 
David  :  Is  it  a  small  thing 
for  you  to  be  grievous  to 
men,  that  you  are  grievous  to 
my  God  also  1  Therefore, 
the  Lord  himself  shall  give 
you  a  sign.  Behold,  a  Virgin 
shall  conceive  and  bear  a  Son, 
and  his  name  shall  be  called 
Emmanuel. 

Let  our  hearts  be  filled  with  hope  and  joy  at  hear- 
ing this  fair  and  sweet  prophecy  :  A  Virgin  shall 
conceive  and  bear  a  Son.  These  words  contain  the 
salvation  of  the  world,  as  these  others  express  its 
perdition  :  The  woman  took  of  the  fruit  of  the  tree, 
and  did  eat,  and  gave  unto  her  husband.  This 
Virgin  promised  to  us  is  at  length  come  :  the  divine 
Fruit  is  in  her  womb.  By  her,  Eve's  disobedience 
is  repaired,  the  world  is  raised  from  its  fall,  the 
head  of  the  serpent  is  crushed,  God  himself  is  more 

M 


Kegem   venturum    Domi- 
num,  venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 
Cap.  VII. 
Et  adjecit  Dominus  loqui 
ad  Achaz,  dicens  :  Pete  tibi 
signum  a  Domino  Deo  tuo 
sive  in  profundum  inferni, 
sive  in  excelsum  supra.  Et 
dixit  Achaz  :  Non  petam,  et 
non  tentabo  Dominum.  Et 
dixit :  Audite  ergo  domus 
David  :  Numquid  parum  vo- 
bis  est  molestos  esse  homini- 
bus,  quia  molesti  estis  et  Deo 
meo  1  Propter  hoc  dabit 
Dominus  ipse  vobis  signum  : 
Ecce  Virgo  concipiet,  et  pa- 
riet  Filium  :  et  vocabitur 
nomen  ejus  Emmanuel. 


162  ADVENT. 

glorified  by  the  fidelity  of  this  second  Virgin,  than  he 
had  been  outraged  by  the  disobedience  of  the  first. 
The  consent  of  Mary  exercises  an  immense  influence 
in  the  saving  of  the  world.  It  is  true  that  the  Word 
himself  is  coming  ;  "  but,"  says  St.  Bernard.  "  Mary 
"  is  the  way  whereby  he  comes ;  it  is  from  her  virginal 
"  womb  he  issues,  as  the  Bridegroom  from  the  nuptial 
"  chamber.  Let  us  endeavour,  therefore,  to  go  up  to 
"  Jesus  by  Mary,  for  Jesus  came  down  to  us  by  her. 
"By  thee,  O  Blessed  one  that  didst  find  Grace,  O 
"  Parent  of  Life,  0  Mother  of  Saltation,  may  we  have 
"  access  to  thy  Son  !  May  He,  who  was  given  to  us 
"  by  thee,  receive  us  by  thee.  May  he  admit  thy 
"purity,  and,  for  its  sake,  forgive  our  impurities; 
"  may  he  give  us  the  pardon  of  our  pride,  because  of 
"  the  pleasure  he  took  in  thy  humility.  May  thy 
"  abundant  charity  cover  the  multitude  of  our  sins. 
"  May  thy  glorious  fruitfulness  get  us  fruitfulness  of 
"  merit.  Our  Lady  !  our  Mediatrix  !  our  Advocate  ! 
"  reconcile  us  to  thy  Son,  commend  us  to  thy  Son, 
"  present  us  to  thy  Son.  By  the  grace  thou  didst  find, 
"  by  the  prerogative  thou  didst  merit,  by  the  Mercy 
"  thou  didst  bring  forth,  grant,  O  Blessed  Virgin  ! 
"that  Jesus,  who  deigned  to  become,  through  thy 
"  maternity,  partaker  of  our  weakness  and  misery, 
"  may,  through  thy  intercession,  make  us  partakers 
"  of  his  glory  and  bliss."1 

PEOSE  IN  HONOUR   OF   THE   BLESSED  VIRGIN. 

(Composed  by  Abailard ;   it  is  found  in  all  the  Roman- 
French  Missals.) 

Mittit  ad  Virginem  God,  the    lover  of    man, 

Non  quemvis  Angelum  :  sends  to  the  Virgin  no  less 

Sed  Fortitudinem  an  Angel  than   him  who  is 

Suum  Archangelum,  called    God's    Strength,    the 

Amator  hominis.  Archangel  Gabriel. 

Fortem  expediat  May  this  strong  messenger 

1  Second  Sermon  of  Advent. 


FIKST   SATURDAY   OF   ADVENT. 


163 


be  speedily  at  his  work  ;  may 
he  stay  the  rights  and  laws  of 
nature  in  the  Virgin's  de- 
livery. 

May  the  King  of  glory, 
when  born,  triumph  over 
nature ;  may  he  reign  and 
command ;  may  he  take  away 
from  the  midst  of  men  all 
leaven  and  rust. 

May  he  humble  proud 
heads  ;  may  this  God,  mighty 
in  war,  trample  in  his  power 
on  the  necks  of  the  haughty. 

May  he  cast  forth  the 
prince  of  this  world ;  and 
make  his  Mother  share  with 
him  the  empire  which  his 
Father  has  given  him. 

Go  forth,  messenger  of 
God,  announce  these  gifts ; 
lift  up,  by  the  virtue  of  thy 
annunciation,  the  veil  of  the 
ancient  Scripture. 

Approach,  tell  thy  an- 
nouncement :  say,  when  thou 
art  in  her  presence,  Hail! 
Say  :  0  full  of  grace  !  Say  : 
The  Lord  is  with  thee  !  And 
then  :  Fear  not  ! 

Receive,  O  Virgin,  the 
divine  deposit ;  by  him  fulfil 
thy  chaste  purpose,  and  keep 
thy  vow. 

The  Maid  hears  and  ac- 
cepts the  announcement ;  she 
believes  and  conceives,  and 
brings  forth  a  Sod,  but  he  is 
the  Admirable, 

The  Counsellor  of  man- 
kind, God  and  Man,  Father 
of  the  world  to  come,  the 
Prince  of  Peace. 


Pro  nobis  nuncium, 
Naturae  faciat 
Ut  praejudicium 
In  partu  Virginis. 

Naturam  superet 
Natus  Rex  gloriae : 
Regnet  et  imperet, 
Et  zyma  scoriae 
T ollat  de  medio. 

Superbientium 
Terat  fastigia : 
Colla  sublimium 
Calcet  vi  propria, 
Potens  in  praelio. 

Foras  ejiciat 
Mundanum  principem ; 
Secumque  faciat 
Matrem  participem 
Patris  imperii. 

Exi  qui  mitteris, 
Haec  dona  dissere : 
Revela  veteris 
Velamen  litterse, 
Virtute  nuncii. 

Accede,  nuncia  : 
Die  :  Ave,  cominus. 
Die  :  Plena  gratia  : 
Die  :  Tecum  Dominus  : 
Et  die  :  Ne  timeas. 

Virgo  suscipias 
Dei  depositum, 
In  quo  perficias 
Casta  propositum 
Et  votum  teneas. 

Audit  et  suscipit 
Puella  nuncium  : 
Credit  et  concipit 
Et  parit  filium, 
Sed  Admirabilem, 

Consiliarium 
Humani  generis  : 
Deum  et  nomine  m 
Et  Patrem  posteris, 
In  pace  stabilem. 


164 


ADVENT. 


Cujus  stabilitas 
Nos  reddat  stabiles, 
Ne  nos  labilitas 
Humana  labiles 
Secum  praecipitet. 

Sed  dator  venise, 
Concessa  venia, 
Per  Matrem  gratise 
Obtenta  gratia, 
In  nobis  habitet. 

Qui  nobis  tribuat 
Peccati  veniam  : 
Reatus  deleat, 
Donet  et  patriam 
In  arce  siderum. 

Amen. 


May  his  firmness  render 
us  firm,  lest  human  frailty- 
should  make  us  stumble 
into  the  abyss. 

But  may  the  Giver  of  par- 
don, granting  us  pardon  and 
grace,  obtained  by  the  Mother 
of  grace,  dwell  within  us. 

May  he  that  grants  us  par- 
don of  our  sins,  wipe  away 
all  our  guilt,  and  give  us  the 
country  in  the  starry  heaven. 

Amen. 


PRAYER  FROM  THE  GALLICAN  SACRAMENTARY. 


{Christmas  Eve.) 


Emmanuel  ,nobiscum  Deus, 
Christe  Filius  Dei,  qui  cum 
ex  Virgine  te  nasciturum 
pronuntias,  quia  Mariam 
matrem  creasti  ut  Dominus, 
de  qua  natus  es  filius :  da 
nobis  ut,  qui  cum  ilia  a  te, 
vel  per  te  creati  sumus  ex  ni- 
hilo,  simili,  ut  ea,  credulitatis 
remuneremur  et  prsemio. 


O  Emmanuel,  God  with 
us,  Christ  the  Son  of  God, 
who  didst  announce  that 
thou  wouldst  be  born  of  a 
Virgin,  and  didst,  as  Lord, 
create  Mary,  the  Mother 
whose  Son  thou  art :  grant  us, 
that  being,  like  her,  created 
by  thee  out  of  nothing,  we 
may  be  rewarded,  like  her, 
for  our  faith  in  thee. 


SECOND  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT.       165 


THE  SECOND  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


The  Office  of  this  Sunday  is  filled,  from  beginning 
to  end,  with  the  sentiments  of  hope  and  joy,  with 
which  the  soul  should  be  animated  at  the  glad  tidings 
of  the  speedy  coming  of  Him  who  is  her  Saviour  and 
Spouse.  The  interior  coming,  that  which  is  effected 
in  the  soul,  is  the  almost  exclusive  object  of  the 
Church's  prayers  for  this  day :  let  as  therefore  open 
our  hearts,  let  us  prepare  our  lamps,  and  wait  in 
gladness  that  cry,  which  will  be  heard  in  the  mid- 
night :  Glory  be  to  God  !  Peace  unto  men  ! 

The  Roman  Church  makes  the  Station  to-day  in 
the  Basilica  of  Holy  Cross-in-Jerusalem.  It  was  in 
this  venerable  church  that  Constantine  deposited  a 
large  piece  of  the  True  Cross,  together  with  the  Title 
which  was  fastened  to  it  by  Pilate's  order,  and  which 
proclaimed  the  Kingly  character  of  the  Saviour  of 
the  world.  These  precious  relics  are  still  kept  there ; 
and,  thus  enriched  with  such  a  treasure,  the  Basilica 
of  Holy  Cross-in-Jerusalem  is  looked  upon,  in  the 
Roman  Liturgy,  as  Jerusalem  itself,  as  is  evident 
from  the  allusions  made  in  the  several  Masses  of  the 
Stations  held  in  that  Basilica.  In  the  language  of 
the  sacred  Scriptures  and  of  the  Church,  Jerusalem 
is  the  image  of  the  faithful  soul ;  and  the  Office  and 
Mass  of  this  Sunday  have  been  drawn  up  on  this 
idea,  as  the  one  of  the  day.  We  regret  not  to  be  able 
here  to  develop  the  sublime  beauty  of  this  figure ; 
and  must  proceed  at  once  to  the  passage,  which  the 
Church  has  selected  from  the  Prophet  Isaias.  There 
she  tells  her  children  how  well-founded  are  her  hopes 
in  the  merciful  and  peaceful  reign  of  the  Messias. 
But  first  let  us  adore  this  divine  Messias : 


166 


ADVENT. 


Regem    venturum    Domi- 
num,  venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 
Cap.  XI. 

Et  egredietur  virga  de  ra- 
dice  Jesse,  et  flos  de  radice 
ejus  ascendet.  Et  requiescet 
super  eum  Spiritus  Domini, 
Spiritus  sapientise  et_  intel- 
lectus,  Spiritus  consiln  et 
fortitudinis,  Spiritus  scien- 
tial et  pietatis  :  et  replebit 
eum  Spiritus  timoris  Domi- 
ni. Non  secundum  visio- 
nem  oculorum  judicabit, 
neque  secundum  auditum 
aurium  arguet :  sed  judi- 
cabit in  justitia  pauperes, 
et  arguet  in  sequitate  pro 
mansuetis  terras.  Et  percu- 
tiet  terram  virga  oris  sui, 
et  spiritu  labiorum  suorum 
interficiet  impium.  Et  erit 
justitia  cingulum  lumborum 
ejus,  et  fides  cinctorium 
renum  ejus.  Habitabit  lu- 
pus cum  agno,  et  pardus 
cum  hcedo  accubabit :  vitu- 
lus  et  leo  et  ovis  simul  mo- 
rabuntur,  et  puer  parvulus 
minabit  eos.  Vitulus  et  ur- 
sus  pascentur :  simul  re- 
quiescent  catuli  eorum  :  et 
leo  quasi  bos  comedet  pa- 
leas.  Et  delectabitur  infans 
ab  ubere  super  foramine  as- 
pidis  :  et  in  caverna  reguli, 
qui  ablactatus  fuerit,  ma- 
num  suam  mittet.  JSTon  no- 
cebunt,  et  non  Occident  in 
universo  monte  sancto  meo  : 
quia  repleta  est  terra  scien- 
tia  Domini,  sicut  aquas  ma- 
ris operientes.  In  die  ilia 
radix  Jesse,  qui  stat  in  sig- 


Come,  let  us  adore  the 
King,  our  Lord,  who  is  to 
come. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 
Ck  XI. 

And  there  shall  come  forth 
a  Branch  out  of  the  root  of 
Jesse,  and  a  Flower  shall  rise 
up  out  of  his  root.  And  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  shall  rest 
upon  him,  the  Spirit  of  wis- 
dom and  of  understanding, 
the  Spirit  of  counsel  and  of 
fortitude,  the  Spirit  of  know- 
ledge and  of  godliness  :  and 
he  shall  be  filled  with  the 
Spirit  of  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 
He  shall  not  judge  according 
to  the  sight  of  the  eyes,  nor 
reprove  according  to  the  hear- 
ing of  the  ears  :  but  he  shall 
judge  the  poor  with  justice, 
and  shall  reprove  with  equity 
for  the  meek  of  the  earth. 
And  he  shall  strike  the  earth 
with  the  rod  of  his  mouth, 
and  with  the  breath  of  his 
lips  he  shall  slay  the  wicked. 
And  justice  shall  be  the  gir- 
dle of  his  loins,  and  faith  the 
girdle  of  his  reins.  The  wolf 
shall  dwell  with  the  lamb, 
and  the  leopard  shall  lie  down 
with  the  kid  :  the  calf  and 
the  lion  and  the  sheep  shall 
abide  together,  and  a  little 
child  shall  lead  them.  The 
calf  and  the  bear  shall  feed  : 
their  young  ones  shall  rest 
together  :  and  the  lion  shall 
eat  straw  like  an  ox.  And 
the  suckling  child  shall  play 
on  the  hole  of  the  asp  :  and 
the  weaned  child  shall  thrust 
his  hand  into  the  den  of  the 
basilisk.      They    shall    not 


SECOND  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT.  167 

hurt,  nor  shall  they  kill  in  all    num  populorum,  ipsum  Gen- 
my  holy  mountain  :  for  the    tes    deprecabuntur,    et    erit 
earth  is  filled  with  the  know-    sepulchrum  ejus  gloriosum. 
ledge    of  the  Lord,   as  the 
covering  waters  of  the  sea. 
In  that  day  the  root  of  Jesse, 
who  standeth  for  an  ensign 
of  people,  him  the  Gentiles 
shall  beseech,  and  his  sepul- 
chre shall  be  glorious. 

How  much  is  contained  in  these  magnificent  words 
of  the  Prophet !  The  Branch  ;  the  Flower  that  is  to 
come  from  it ;  the  Spirit  which  rests  on  this  flower  ; 
the  seven  Gifts  of  this  Spirit ;  peace  and  confidence 
established  on  the  earth ;  and,  throughout  the  world, 
one  brotherhood  in  the  kingdom  of  the  Messias  !  St. 
Jerome,  whose  words  are  read  by  the  Church  in  the 
lessons  of  the  Second  Nocturn  of  this  Sunday,  says  : 
"  That  the  Branch  which  cometh  forth  from  the  root 
"  of  Jesse,  is  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  who  had  con- 
"  tact  with  no  shrub  or  plant;  and  that  the  Flower 
"  is  the  Lord  Jesus,  who  says  in  the  Canticle  of  Can- 
"  tides  :  /  am  the  Flower  of  the  field,  and  the  Lily 
"  of  the  valley!'  In  every  age  of  the  Christian 
Church,  this  wonderful  Branch  and  its  divine  Flower 
have  been  objects  of  enthusiastic  veneration.  In 
the  Middle  Ages,  the  Tree  of  Jesse,  with  its  prophetic 
branches,  wras  carved  on  the  cathedral  porches,  was 
painted  on  the  windows,  was  embroidered  on  the 
hangings  of  the  sanctuary,  and  the  melodious  voice 
of  the  priests  sang  its  praises  in  the  beautiful  Re- 
sponsory  composed  by  F albert  of  Chartres,  and  put 
to  music  by  the  devout  King  Robert. 

1$.  The  root  of  Jesse  gave  1$.    Stirps    Jesse    virgam 

out  a  Branch,  and  the  Branch  produxit,  virgaque  norem  ;* 

a    Flower  ;    *    and    on   the  et  super  hunc  norem  requies- 

Flower    resteth    the    Holy  cit  Spiritus  almus. 
Spirit. 

f.  The  Virgin  Mother  of  f.    Virgo    Dei    Genitrix 

GodistheBranch,herSonthe  virga  est,  nos    filius   ejus.* 


168  ADVENT. 

Et    super   tunc    norein  re-    Flower.  *  And  on  the  Flower 
quiescit  Spiritus  almus.  resteth  the  Holy  Spirit. 

The  devout  St.  Bernard,  commenting  upon  this 
Responsory  in  his  second  Advent  Homily,  says : 
"  The  Virgin's  Son  is  the  Flower,  a  Flower  white  and 
"  ruddy,  chosen  out  of  thousands ;  a  Flower  on  whom 
"  the  Angels  love  to  look  ;  a  Flower  whose  fragrance 
"  restores  the  dead  ;  a  Flower,  as  himself  assures  us, 
"  of  the  field,  not  of  a  garden  :  for  the  flowers  of  the 
"  field  bloom  without  man's  care,  no  man  has  sown 
"  their  seed,  no  man  has  cultivated  them.  Just  so 
"  the  Virgin's  womb,  a  meadow  verdant  in  an  endless 
"  spring,  has  brought  forth  a  Flower,  whose  beauty 
"  will  never  droop,  whose  freshness  will  never  fade. 
"  0  Virgin,  Branch  sublime,  to  what  a  height  art 
"  thou  grown  !  Even  up  to  Him  that  sitteth  on 
"  the  Throne,  even  to  the  Lord  of  majesty.  It  was 
"  sure  to  be  so,  for  thou  castest  deep  down  the  roots 
"  of  humilit}^  0  plant  of  heaven  indeed  !  precious 
"  above  all,  holier  than  all.  0  tree  of  life  indeed ! 
"  alone  worthy  to  bear  the  fruit  of  salvation." 

And  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  his  Gifts,  what  shall 
we  say  ?  They  rest  and  are  poured  out  on  the 
Messias  only  to  the  end  that  they  may  flow  from 
him  upon  us;  he  needs  them  not;  but  we  alone  need 
Wisdom  and  Understanding,  Counsel  and  Fortitude, 
Knowledge  and  Godliness,  and  Fear  of  the  Lord. 
Let  us  ask  with  instance  for  this  divine  Spirit,  by 
whose  operation  Jesus  was  conceived  and  born  in 
Mary's  womb,  and  let  us  beg  of  him  to  form  Jesus 
within  our  hearts.  But  let  us  not  forget  to  rejoice 
at  those  other  glorious  things  which  are  told  us  by 
the  Prophet,  of  the  happiness,  and  peace,  and  de- 
lights, which  are  to  be  on  the  Holy  Mountain.  The 
world  has  been  looking  so  many  ages  for  peace ;  it  is 
now  coming.  Sin  had  put  enmity  and  division  every- 
where ;  grace  will  bring  unity.  A  little  Child  will 
be   the  pledge  of  an  alliance  between  all  nations. 


SECOND  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT.        169 

The  Prophets  have  foretold  it,  the  Sibyl  has  an- 
nounced it,  and  in  Rome  itself,  buried  as  it  is  in 
Paganism,  the  prince  of  Latin  poets  has  sung  the 
celebrated  poem,  which,  after  all,  is  but  the  voice  of 
the  old  tradition :  "  The  last  age,  foretold  by  the 
"  Cumean  Sibyl,  is  at  hand;  a  new  race  is  being  sent 
"  down  to  earth  from  high  heaven.  The  flocks  shall 
"  no  more  fear  the  fierce  lions.  The  serpent  shall  be 
"  no  more :  the  treacherous  plant,  which  yielded 
"  poison,  shall  grow  no  more."1 

Come,  then,  O  Messias,  and  restore  to  the  world  its 
primitive  peace ;  but  remember,  we  beseech  thee,  that 
it  is  in  the  heart  of  man  that  harmony  has  been  broken 
more  than  elsewhere  in  thy  creation :  cure  this  heart, 
enter  into  possession  of  this  Jerusalem,  which  thou 
lovest,  though  so  unworthy :  she  has  been  too  long 
captive  in  Babylon;  lead  her  out  of  this  strange  land. 
Build  up  her  temple  again,  and  make  the  glory  of 
this  second  temple  to  be  greater  than  that  of  the 
first,  by  having  thee  to  dwell  in  it,  not  in  figure,  but 
in  the  reality  of  thy  adorable  Person.  The  Angel 
said  to  Mary  :  The  Lord  God  shall  give  unto  thy  Son 
the  throne  of  David  his  father ;  and  he  shall  reign 
in  the  house  of  Jacob  for  ever';  and  of  his  kingdom 
there  shall  be  no  end.  What  can  we  do,  O  Jesus, 
but  say,  with  thy  beloved  disciple,  at  the  close  of 
his  prophecy :  Amen.     Come,  Lord  Jesus ! 


MASS. 


The  Holy  Sacrifice  commences  with  a  song  of 
triumph,  addressed  to  Jerusalem.  This  song  expresses 
the  joy  which  will  fill  the  heart  of  man,  when  he  shall 

1  Ultima  Cumaei  venit  jam  carminis  setas.   .  . 
Jam  nova  progenies  coelo  demittitur  alto.  .  . 
....   Nee  magnos  metuent  armenta  leones.   .   . 
Occidet  et  serpens,  et  fallax  herba  veneni 
Occidet.  .  .  .   {Virgil.  Eclog.iv.) 


170 


ADVENT. 


hear  the  voice  of  his  God.  It  extols  the  goodness  of 
that  divine  Shepherd,  who  looks  on  each  of  our  souls 
as  a  sheep  most  dear  to  him,  so  dear,  indeed,  that  he 
will  feed  it  with  his  own  flesh. 


INTROIT. 


Populus  Sion,  ecce  Do- 
minus  venit  ad  salvandas 
gentes :  et  auditam  faciet 
Dominus  gloriam  vocis  suae 
in  laetitia  cordis  vestri. 

Ps.  Qui  regis  Israel  in- 
tende  :  qui  deducis  velut 
ovem,  Joseph.  ft.  Gloria 
Patri. 


People  of  Sion,  behold  the 
Lord  will  come  to  save  the 
Gentiles  :  and  the  Lord  will 
make  the  glory  of  his  voice 
heard  to  the  joy  of  your 
hearts. 

Ps.  Give  ear,  O  thou  that 
rulest  Israel :  thou  that  lead- 
est  Joseph  like  a  sheep,  ft* 
Glory  be  to  the  Father. 


In  the  Collect,  the  Priest  lays  stress  on  the  great 
preparation  we  must  make  for  the  Coming  of  our 
Saviour  ;  we  must  have  purity  of  heart. 


COLLECT. 


Excita,  Domine,  corda  nos- 
tra ad  praeparandas  Unigeniti 
tui  vias  :  ut  per  ejus  adven- 
tum  purificatis  tibi  mentibus 
servire  mereamur.  Qui  te- 
cum. 


Stir  up,  0  Lord,  our  hearts 
to  prepare  the  ways  of  thy 
Only  Begotten  Son  :  that  by 
his  coming  we  may  be  en- 
abled to  serve  thee  with  pure 
minds.     Who  liveth,  &c. 


The  other  Collects  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  against 
the  Persecutors  of  the  Church,  and  for  the  Pope, 
are  the  same  as  on  the  first  Sunday  in  Advent, 
page  132. 


EPISTLE. 


Lectio  Epistolse  beati  Pauli 
Apostoli  ad  Komanos. 

Cap.  XV. 
Fratres,  quaecumque  scrip- 
ta  sunt,  ad  nostram  doctri- 


Lesson  of  the  Epistle  of 
Saint  Paul  the  Apostle  to 
the  Romans. 

Ch.  XV. 
Brethren,  what  things  so- 
ever were  written,  were  writ- 


SECOND   SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT, 


171 


ten  for  our  learning  :  that 
through  patience  and  the 
comfort  of  the  Scriptures,  we 
might  have  hope.  Now  the 
God  of  patience  and  of  com- 
fort grant  you  to  be  of  one 
mind  one  towards  another, 
according  to  Jesus  Christ : 
that  with  one  mind  and  with 
one  mouth  you  may  glorify 
God  and  the  Father  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Where- 
fore receive  one  another  as 
Christ  also  hath  received  you 
unto  the  honour  of  God.  For 
I  say  that  Christ  Jesus  was 
minister  of  the  circumcision 
for  the  truth  of  God,  to  con- 
firm the  promises  made  unto 
the  fathers.  But  that  the 
Gentiles  are  to  glorify  God 
for  his  mercy,  as  it  is  written : 
Therefore  will  I  confess  to 
thee,  O  Lord,  among  the 
Gentiles,  and  will  sing  to  thy 
name.  And  again  he  saith  : 
Rejoice  ye  Gentiles  with  his 
people.  And  again  :  Praise 
the  Lord  all  ye  Gentiles,  and 
magnify  him  all  ye  people. 
And  again  Isaias  saith :  There 
shall  be  a  root  of  Jesse,  and 
he  that  shall  rise  up  to  rule 
the  Gentiles,  in  him  the  Gen- 
tiles shall  hope.  Now  the 
God  of  hope  fill  you  with  all 
joy  and  peace  in  believing  : 
that  you  may  abound  in 
hope,  and  in  the  power  of 
the  Holy  Ghost. 

Here,  Christians,  is  your  instruction ;  be  patient, 
be  firm  in  hope,  and  you  shall  delight  in  the  God  of 
peace,  who  is  coming  to  you.  But,  take  heed,  you 
must  have  cordial  charity  one  for  the  other  ;  it  is  the 
mark  of  the  children  of  God.     The  Prophet  tells  us 


nam  scripta  sunt  :  ut  per 
patientiam  et  consolationem 
Scripturarum,  spem  habea- 
mus.  Deus  autem  patientise 
et  solatii  det  vobis  idipsum 
sapere  in  alterutrum  secun- 
dum Jesum  Christum  :  ut 
unanimes  uno  ore  honori- 
ficetis  Deum,  et  Patrem  Do- 
mini nostri  Jesu  Christi. 
Propter  quod  suscipite  invi- 
cem,  sicut  et  Christus  susce- 
pit  vos  in  honorem  Dei. 
Dico  enim  Christum  Jesum 
ministrum  fuisse  circumci- 
sionis  propter  veritatem  Dei, 
ad  confirmandas  promissi- 
ones  patrum.  Gentes  autem 
super  misericordia  honorare 
Deum,  sicut  scriptum  est: 
Propterea  confitebor  tibi  in 
Gentibus  Domine,  et  nomini 
tuo  cantabo.  Et  iterum  di- 
cit :  Lsetamini  Gentes  cum 
plebe  ejus.  Et  iterum  :  Lau- 
date  omnes  Gentes  Domi- 
num :  et  magnificate  eum 
omnes  populi.  Et  rursus 
Isaias  ait :  Erit  radix  Jesse  ; 
et  qui  exsurget  regere  Gen- 
tes, in  eum  Gentes  spera- 
bunt.  Deus  autem  spei  re- 
pleat  vos  omni  gaudio,  et  pace 
in  credendo :  ut  abundetis 
in  spe,  et  virtute  Spiritus 
Sancti. 


172 


ADVENT. 


that  the  Messias  will  make  even  wolf  and  lamb  dwell 
together ;  and  now  we  have  the  Apostle  showing  us 
how  this  same  Christ  brings  Jews  and  Gentiles  into 
the  one  same  family.  Glory  to  this  sovereign  King, 
the  powerful  offspring  of  the  root  of  Jesse,  who  now 
bids  us  hope  in  him !  Listen  to  the  Church,  she 
again  tells  us  that  he  is  about  to  show  himself  in 
Jerusalem. 

GRADUAL. 


Ex  Sion  species  decoris 
ejus;  Deus  manifeste  veniet. 
*.  Congregate  illi  sanctos 
ejus,  qui  ordinaverunt  testa- 
mentum  ejus  super  sacri- 
ficia. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

Lsetatus  sum  in  his  quae 
dicta  sunt  mini:  in  domum 
Domini  ibimus.    Alleluia. 


He  shall  come  in  his  come- 
liness and  beauty  from  Sion  : 
God  will  come  visibly,  "ft. 
Gather  to  him  his  Saints, 
who  have  set  his  covenant 
by  sacrifice. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

I  rej  oiced  at  what  was  told 
me  :  we  are  to  go  up  to  the 
house  of  the  Lord.    Alleluia. 


GOSPEL. 


Sequentia    sancti   Evangelii 
secundum  Matthseum. 

Cap.  XL 

In  illo  tempore  :  Cum  au- 
disset  Joannes  in  vinculis 
opera  Christi,  mittens  duos 
de  discipulis  suis,  ait  illi  : 
Tu  es,  qui  venturus  es,  an 
ahum  exspectamus  ]  Et  re- 
spondens  Jesus  ait  illis : 
Euntes  renuntiate  Joanni 
quae  audistis,  et  vidistis. 
Casci  vident,  claudi  ambu- 
lant, leprosi  mundantur, 
surdi  audiunt,  mortui  re- 
surgunt,  pauperes  evange- 
lizantur  ;  et  beatus  est,  qui 
non  fuerit  scandalizatus  in 
me.  Illis  autem  abeuntibus, 
ccepit  Jesus  dicere  ad  turbas 
de  Joanne  :  Quid  existis 
in  desertum  videre]    Arun- 


Sequel  of  the  holy  Gospel 
according  to  Matthew. 

Ch.  XI. 
At  that  time :  When  John 
had  heard  in  prison  the  works 
of  Christ,  sending  two  of  his 
disciples,  he  said  to  him :  Art 
thou  he  that  art  to  come,  or 
look  we  for  another  1  And 
Jesus  making  answer,  said  to 
them  :  Go  and  relate  to  John 
what  you  have  heard  and 
seen.  The  blind  see,  the  lame 
walk,  the  lepers  are  cleansed, 
the  deaf  hear,  the  dead  rise 
again,  the  poor  have  the 
Gospel  preached  to  them  : 
and  blessed  is  he  that  shall 
not  be  scandalized  in  me. 
And  when  they  went  their 
way,  Jesus  began  to  say  to 
the    multitude,    concerning 


SECOND  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT.       173 

John  :  What  went  you  out  dinem  vento  agitatam  %    Sed 

into  the  desert  to  see  1  A  reed  quid  existis  videre  1    Homi- 

shaken  with  the  wind  1    But  nem      mollibus      vestitum  1 

what  went  you  out  to  see  ?  A  Ecce   qui   mollibus  vestiun- 

man  clothed  in  soft  garments?  tur,  in  domibusregum  sunt. 

Behold  they  that  are  clothed  Sed     quid     existis    videre  ] 

in  soft  garments  are  in  the  Prophetam'?     Etiamdicovo- 

houses  of  kings.     But  what  bis,  et  plus  quam  Prophetam. 

went  you  out  to   see  1     A  Hie  est  enim  de  quo  scriptum 

Prophet]     Yea,  I  tell   you,  est  :  Ecce  ego  mitto  Angelum 

and  more   than  a   Prophet,  meum    ante    faciem    tuain, 

For  this  is  he  of  whom  it  is  qui  praeparabit  viam  tuam 

written :  Behold,  I  send  my  ante  te. 
Angel  before  thy  face,  who 
shall  prepare  thy  way  before 
thee. 

Thou  art  He  that  was  to  come,  0  Jesus  !  We  look 
for  no  other.  We  were  blind,  thou  hast  enlightened 
us ;  we  were  lame,  thou  hast  made  us  walk  ;  the 
leprosy  of  sin  disfigured  us,  thou  hast  cleansed  us ; 
we  were  deaf  to  thy  words,  thou  hast  given  us  hearing ; 
we  were  dead  in  sin,  thou  hast  given  us  life  again  ; 
we  were  poor  and  had  none  to  care  for  us,  thou  hast 
come  to  us  with  every  aid  and  consolation.  These 
have  been,  and  will  again  be,  the  blessings  of  thy 
visit  to  our  souls,  O  Jesus  ! — a  visit,  silent  but  won- 
derful in  its  work  ;  which  flesh  and  blood  cannot 
understand,  but  which  faithful  hearts  feel  is  granted 
them.  Come,  my  Saviour,  come  to  me  !  thy  conde- 
scension, and  familiarity  with  such  poverty  as  mine, 
shall  not  scandalise  me ;  thy  workings  in  the  souls  of 
men  are  proof  enough  that  thou  art  God.  He  alone, 
that  created  souls,  can  heal  them. 

After  the  Symbol  of  Faith  has  been  chanted, 
when  you  see  the  Priest  is  about  to  make  the  offering 
of  the  Bread  and  Wine,  unite  with  the  Church  in 
asking  to  be  filled  with  life  by  the  divine  Guest,  who 
is  so  soon  to  be  with  her. 


174  ADVENT. 


OFFERTORY. 

Deus,  tu  convertens  vivi-  Thou  wilt  turn,  O  God,  to 

ficabis  nos,  et  plebs  tua  lae-  us,  and  bring  us  to  life,  and 

tabitur  in   te  :   ostende   no-  thy  people   shall   rejoice  in 

bis,   Domine,  misericordiam  thee  :  show  us,  O  Lord,  thy 

tuam,  et  Salutare   tuum  da  mercy,  and  grant  us  thy  Sal- 

nobis.  vation. 

SECRET. 

Placare,     quaesumus,    Do-  Be  appeased,  O  Lord,  we 

mine,      humilitati      nostrae  beseech  thee,  by  our  humble 

precibus  et  hostiis  :    et    ubi  prayers  and  sacrifices  :    and 

nulla  suppetunt  suffragia  me-  although  we  allege  no  deserts 

ritorum,  tuis  nobis  succu.rre  on  our  part,  grant  us  thy  pro - 

praesidiis.     Per  Dominum.  tection.     Through,  <kc. 

The  other  Secrets  as  on  the  first  Sunday,  'page 
136. 

During  the  Communion,  the  voice  of  the  Church  is 
again  heard,  proclaiming  the  happiness  which  is  to 
be  granted  to  Jerusalem.  Her  God  is  coming  to 
her,  and  he  wishes  to  make  her  his  Spouse.  Let  her 
prepare  herself  for  this  divine  Visit,  and  detach  her- 
self from  everything  which  is  not  God,  her  God  who 
is  her  Spouse. 

COMMUNION. 

Jerusalem,  surge,  et  sta  in  Arise,    O  Jerusalem,    and 

excelso  :    et  vide  j  ucundita-  stand  on   high  ;    and  behold 

tern,  quae  veniet  tibia  Deo  the  joy  that  will  come  to  thee 

tuo.  from  thy  God. 

.  In  the  following  Prayer,  the  Church  explains  in 
what  consists  that  high  standing  to  which  she  has 
just  invited  Jerusalem  : — love  of  the  things  of  heaven 
whence  comes  her  Saviour,  and  contempt  of  earthly 
things  which,  when  loved,  separate  man  from  God. 

POSTCOMMUNION. 

Eepleti    cibo     spiritualis        Being  filled,  0  Lord,  with 
^  alimonia3,  supplices   te,  Do-    this     spiritual      food,     we 


SECOND  SUNDAY   OF  ADVENT. 


175 


humbly  beseech  thee  to  teach 
us,  by  partaking  of  this 
mystery,  to  despise  earthly 
things,  and  to  love  such  as 
are  heavenly.     Through,  &c. 


mine,  deprecamur,  ut  hujus 
participatione  mysterii,  do- 
ceas  nos  terrena  despicere,  et 
amare  ccelestia.    Per  Domi- 


num. 


The  other  Postcommunions  as  on  the  first  Sunday, 
'page  137. 


VESPERS. 


1.  Ant.  Behold  the  Lord 
will  come  in  the  clouds  of 
heaven  with  great  power. 
Alleluia. 

2.  Ant.  Sion  is  our  strong 
city,  the  Saviour  shall  be  its 
wall  and  bulwark  :  open  the 
gates,  for  God  is  with  us. 
Alleluia. 

3.  Ant.  Behold  the  Lord 
will  appear,  and  will  not  de- 
ceive us  :  if  he  stay,  expect 
him,  for  he  will  come,  and 
will  not  delay.    Alleluia. 

4.  Ant.  Mountains  and 
hills  shall  sing  forth  praises 
before  God,  and  all  the  trees 
of  the  forest  shall  clap  their 
hands,  because  the  Lord,  the 
ruler,  will  come  into  his 
eternal  kingdom.  Alleluia, 
alleluia. 

5.  Ant.  Behold  our  Lord 
will  come  with  power,  and 
will  enlighten  the  eyes  of  his 
servants.    Alleluia. 


1.  Ant.  Ecce  in  nubibus 
cceli  Dominus  veniet  cum 
potestate  magna.    Alleluia. 

2.  Ant.  Urbs  fortitudinis 
nostrse  Sion,  Salvator  pone- 
tur  in  ea  mums  et  antemu- 
rale :  aperite  portas,  quia 
nobiscum  Deus.     Alleluia. 

3.  Ant.  Ecce  apparebit 
Dominus,  et  non  mentietur  : 
si  moram  fecerit,  exspecta 
eum,  quia  veniet,  et  non  tar- 
dabit.     Alleluia. 

4.  Ant.  Montes  et  colles 
cantabunt  coram  Deo  lau- 
dem,  et  omnia  ligna  silva- 
rum  plaudent  manibus,  quo- 
niam  veniet  dominator 
Dominus  in  regnum  seter- 
num.    Alleluia,  alleluia. 

5.  Ant.  Ecce  Dominus 
noster  cum  virtute  veniet,  et 
illuminabit  oculos  servorum 
suorum.    Alleluia. 


CAPITULUM. 

Brethren,  what  things  Fratres,  qusecumque  scrip  - 
soever  were  written,  were  ta  sunt,  ad  nostram  doctri- 
written    for    our    learning :    nam   scripta    sunt :   ut  per 


176 


ADVENT. 


patieritiam  et  consolationem  that  through  patience  and 
Scripturarum  spem  habea-  the  comfort  of  the  Scriptures 
mus.  we  might  have  hope. 

The  Hymn  Creator  alme  siderum,  the  Verse 
Borate,  and  the  Canticle  Magnificat,  are  given  in 
pages  110  and  112. 

antiphon  of  the  Magnificat 

Tu  es  qui  venturus  es,  an  Art  thou  he  that  art  to 

alium  exspectamus "?    Dicite  come,  or  look  we  for  ano- 

Joanni  quae  vidistis  :  Ad  lu-  ther  1    Tell  John  what  you 

men    redeunt    caeci,   mortui  have  seen :    the  blind    see, 

resurgunt,  pauperes  evange-  the  dead  rise  again,  the  poor 

lizantur.    Alleluia.  have    the    Gospel   preached 

unto  them.    Alleluia. 


OREMUS. 

Excita,  Domine,  corda 
nostra  ad  prseparandas  Uni- 
geniti  tui  vias  ;  ut  per  ejus 
adventum,  purificatis  tibi 
mentibus  servire  mereamur. 
Qui  tecum  vivit  et  regnat  in 
ssecula  sseculorum.    Amen. 


LET   US  PRAY. 

Stir  up,  0  Lord,  our  hearts, 
to  prepare  the  ways  of  thy 
Only  Begotten  Son  ;  that  by 
his  coming  we  may  be 
enabled  to  serve  thee  with 
pure  minds.  Who  liveth 
and  reigneth  with  thee  for 
ever  and  ever.    Amen. 


SECOND  MONDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


177 


MONDAY 

OF  THE  SECOND  WEEK  OF  ADVENT. 


Come,  let  us  adore  the 
King  our  Lord,  who  is  to 
come. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 

Oh.  XIII. 

The  burden  of  Babylon, 
which  Isaias  the  son  of  Amos 
saw.  Upon  the  dark  moun- 
tain lift  ye  up  a  banner,  exalt 
the  voice,  lift  up  the  hand, 
and  let  the  rulers  go  into  the 
gates.  I  have  commanded 
my  sanctified  ones,  and  have 
called  my  strong  ones  in  my 
wrath,  them  that  rejoice  in 
my  glory.  The  noise  of  the 
multitude  in  the  mountains, 
as  it  were  of  many  people : 
the  noise  of  the  sound  of 
kings,  of  nations  gathered 
together.  The  Lord  of  hosts 
hath  given  charge  to  the 
troops  of  war,  to  them  that 
come  from  a  country  afar  oif, 
from  the  end  of  heaven  :  the 
Lord  and  the  instruments  of 
his  wrath,  to  destroy  the 
whole  land.  Howl  ye,  for 
the  day  of  the  Lord  is  near, 
it  shall  come  as  a  destruction 
from  the  Lord.  Therefore 
shall  all  hands  be  faint,  and 
every  heart  of  man  shall 
melt,  and  shall  be  broken. 
Gripings  and  pains  shall  take 


Regem   venturum,  Domi- 
num,  venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 
Cap.  XIII. 

Onus  Babylonis,  quod  vi- 
dit  Isaias  filius  Amos.  Super 
montem  caliginosum  levate 
signum,  exaltate  vocem, 
levate  manum,  et  ingredian- 
tur  portas  duces.  Ego  man- 
davi  sanctificatis  meis,  et 
vocavi  fortes  meos  in  ira 
mea,  exsultantes  in  gloria 
mea.  Vox  multitudinis  in 
montibus,  quasi  populorum 
frequentium :  vox  sonitus 
regum,  gentium  congregata- 
rum.  Dominus  exercituum 
prsecepit  militise  belli,  veni- 
entibus  de  terra  procul  a 
summitate  cceli ;  Dominus, 
et  vasa  furoris  ejus,  ut  dis- 
perdat  omnem  terram.  Ulu- 
late, quia  prope  est  dies  Do- 
mini, quasi  vastitas  a  Do- 
mino veniet.  Propter  hoc 
omnes  manus  dissolventur, 
et  omne  cor  hominis  conta- 
bescet,  et  conteretur.  Tor- 
siones  et  dolores  tenebunt, 
quasi  parturiens,  dolebunt  : 
unusquisque  ad  proximum 
suum  stupebit,  facies  com- 
bu&tse  vultus  eorum.  Ecce 
N 


178 


ADVENT. 


dies  Domini  veniet  crudelis 
et  indignationis  plenus,  et 
iraa,  furorisque  ad  ponen- 
dam  terrain  in  solitudinem, 
et  peccatores  ejus  conteren- 
dos  de  ea.  Quoniam  stellae 
cceli,  et  splendor  earum  non 
expandent  lumen  suum  :  ob- 
tenebratus  est  sol  in  ortu  suo, 
et  luna  non  splendebit  in 
lumine  suo.  Et  visitabo  su- 
per orbis  mala,  et  contra  im- 
pios  iniquitatem  eorum  :  et 
quiescere  faciam  superbiam 
infidelium,  et  arrogantiam 
f  ortium  humiliabo. 


hold  of  them,  they  shall  be 
in  pain  as  a  woman  in  labour : 
every  one  shall  be  amazed  at 
his  neighbour,  their  counte- 
nances shall  be  as  faces  burnt. 
Behold,  the  day  of  the  Lord 
shall  come,  a  cruel  day,  and 
full  of  indignation,  and  of 
wrath,  and  fury  to  lay  the 
land  desolate,  and  to  destroy 
the  sinners  thereof  out  of  it. 
For  the  stars  of  heaven,  and 
their  brightness  shall  not  dis- 
play their  light :  the  sun  shall 
be  darkened  in  his  rising,  and 
the  moon  shall  not  shine 
with  her  light.  And  I  will 
visit  the  evils  of  the  world, 
and  against  the  wicked  for 
their  iniquity :  and  I  will 
make  the  pride  of  infidels  to 
cease,  and  bring  down  the 
arrogancy  of  the  mighty. 


The  Church  puts  before  us  again,  in  the  office  of 
to-day,  the  terrible  spectacle  of  the  last  Coming  of 
Jesus  Christ.  The  sinful  Babylon,  of  which  Isaias 
speaks,  is  the  world  grown  old  in  its  crimes ;  the 
cruel  day,  full  of  indignation  and  wrath,  is  that 
on  which  the  Messias  will  return  to  judge  the  world, 
with  his  Sign  glittering  in  the  clouds.  The  words 
used  by  the  Prophet  to  describe  the  terror  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Babylon  are  so  expressive,  that  it  is 
difficult  to  meditate  upon  them  seriously  and  not 
tremble.  You,  then,  who,  in  this  second  week  of 
preparation  for  the  Birth  of  our  Saviour,  are  still 
wavering  and  undecided  as  to  what  you  intend  to  do 
for  the  day  of  his  Coming,  reflect  upon  the  connec- 
tion that  there  is  between  the  two  Comings.  If  you 
receive  your  Saviour  in  the  first,  you  need  be  in  no 
fear  for  the  second ;  but  if  you  despise  the  first,  the 
second  will  be  to  your  destruction,  nor  will  the  cries 


SECOND  MONDAY  OF   ADVENT.  179 

of  your  despair  save  you.  The  Judge  will  come  on 
a  sudden,  at  mid-night,  at  the  very  time  when  you 
persuade  yourself  that  he  is  far  off  from  you. 

Say  not,  that  the  end   of  the  world  is  not  yet 
come,  and  that  the  destinies  of  the  human  race  are 
not  filled  up, — it  is  not  the  world  that  is  here  in 
question,  it  is  you  individually.     True,  the  Day  of 
the  Lord  will  be  terrible,  when  this  world  shall  be 
broken  up  as  a  vessel  of  clay,  and  the  remnants  of 
creation  shall  be  a  prey  to  devouring  flames ;  but, 
long  before  that  day  of  universal  terror,  your  own 
day  of  judgment  will  come.     The  inexorable  Judge 
will  come  to  you,  you  will  stand  before  his  face,  you 
will  have  none  to  defend  you,  and  the  sentence  he 
will  pass  will   be  eternal ;    and  though  the  nature 
of  that  sentence,  whether  for  or  against  you,  will 
not  be  known  to  the  rest  of  the  world  until  the  last 
and  general  judgment,  still  is  this  his  Coming  to 
you,  at  your  own  judgment,  terrible  above  measure. 
Remember,  therefore,  that  what  will  make  the  terror 
of  the  Last  Day  so  great  is,  that  then  will  be  solemnly 
and  publicly  confirmed  what  was  judged  irrevocably, 
though  secretly,   between    your  own  soul   and   her 
Judge ;  just  as  the  favourable  sentence,  which  the 
good  receive  at  the  happy  moment  of  their  death, 
will   be  repeated   before  the  immense  assembly  of 
men  and  Angels  on  the  Last  Day.     Is  it  wise,  then, 
Christians,  to  put  off  your  conversion,  on  the  plea  of 
the  Day  of  the  Lord  not  having  to  come  for  ages, 
when  it  might  be  this  night  that  your  soul  were 
required  of  you  I1     The  Lord  is  coming :  lose  no 
time,  prepare  to  meet  him  ;  an  humble  and  contrite 
and  converted  heart  is  sure  to  find  acceptance. 

i  St.  Luke,  xii.  20. 


180 


ADVENT. 


CANTICLE   OF  THE  LAST  JUDGMENT. 


{It  is  an  interpolation  of  appropriate  sentences  into  the 
Eesponsory  Libera  :  it  was  occasionally  so  sung  in  the  15th 
and  16th  centuries.) 


1$.  Libera  me,  Domine,  de 
morte  seterna,  in  die  ilia  tre- 
menda ; 

*  Quando  coeli  movendi 
sunt  et  terra ; 

*  Dum  veneris  judicare 
sseculum  per  ignem. 

ft.  Timebunt  Angeli  et 
Archangeli  :  impii  autem  ubi 
parebunt  % 

*  Quando  coeli  movendi 
sunt  et  terra. 

ft.  Quid  ergo  miserrinius, 
quid  dicam,  vel  quid  faciam, 
dum  nil  boni  perferam  ante 
tantum  judicem  % 

*  Dum  veneris  judicare 
saeculum  per  ignem. 

ft.  Vix  Justus  salvabitur ; 
et  ego  miser,  ubi  parebo  % 

*  Quando  coeli  movendi 
sunt  et  terra. 

*  Lux  immarcescibilis, 
eripe  me  de  tenebris,  ne  ca- 
dam  in  obscura  poenarum  in- 
cendia  ; 

*  Dum  veneris  judicare 
sseculum  per  ignem. 

ft.  Plangent  super  se  om- 
nes  tribus  terras  ; 

*  Quando  coeli  movendi 
sunt  et  terra. 

ft.  Vox  de  coelis  :  O  vos 
mortui  qui  jacetis  in  sepul- 
chris,  surgite  et  occurrite  ad 
judicium  Salvatoris ; 


1$.  Deliver  me,  0  Lord, 
from  eternal  death,  on  that 
dread  day ; 

*  When  heaven  and  earth 
are  to  be  moved ; 

*  When  thou  shalt  come 
to  judge  the  world  by  fire. 

.  ft.  The  Angels  and  Arch- 
angels shall  fear  ;  but  the 
impious,  where    shall    they 

be  • 

*  When  heaven  and  earth 

are  to  be  moved. 

ft.  What,  therefore,  shall 
I  wretched  sinner  say  1  or 
what  shall  I  do1?  who  can 
take  no  good  before  so  great 
a  Judge. 

*  When  thou  shalt  come 
to  judge  the  world  by  fire. 

y.  The  just  shall  scarce  be 
saved";  and  I  a  sinner,  where 
shall  I  appear  1 

*  When  heaven  and  earth 
are  to  be  moved. 

ft.  0  Light  eternal,  deliver 
me  from  darkness,  lest  I  fall 
into  the  dismal  fire  of  tor- 
ment ; 

*  When  thou  shalt  come 
to  judge  the  world  by  fire. 

ft.  All  the  tribes  of  the 
earth  shall  mourn ; 

*  When  heaven  and  earth 
are  to  be  moved. 

ft.  And  then  a  voice  from 
heaven  :  Arise  ye  dead  that 
sleep  in  your  graves,  and  come 
to  the  Judgment  of  Jesus ; 


SECOND  MONDAY  OF   ADVENT. 


181 


*  When  thou  shalt  come  to 
judge  the  world  by  fire. 

ft.  Praise  the  Lord,  O  my 
soul !  I  will  praise  the  Lord, 
while  I  live  ;  and  in  the  flesh, 
I  shall  see  God  ; 

*  When  thou  shalt  come  to 
judge  the  world  by  fire. 

ft.  When  God  the  Son  of 
the  Virgin,  shall  come  to 
judge  the  world,  he  will  say 
to  the  just  on  his  right  hand  : 
Come,  my  beloved  children,  I 
have  prepared  a  kingdom  to 
be  given  unto  you.  O  happy 
word  !  happy  promise  ! 
Happy  Giver  !  and  happy 
gift! 

*  When  heaven  and  earth 
are  to  be  moved. 

ft.  After  this,  he  will  say 
to  them  that  are  on  his  left : 
I  know  you  not,  ye  workers 
of  iniquity  :  the  glory  of  the 
world  deceived  you;  go  to 
that  deep  abyss  with  the  devil 
and  his  ministers.  O  what 
grief  !  what  sadness  !  what 
wailing  !  what  weeping  ! 


*  When  thou  shalt  come  to 
judge  the  world  by  fire. 

ft.  Even  now  the  King  is 
preparing  for  his  judgment ; 
the  day,  terrible  beyond  all 
thought,  is  at  hand ;  and  who 
will  be  our  refuge  1  The  Vir- 
gin Mother,  the  hope  of  all. 
May  she  pray  to  her  Son  for 
us  !  O  Jesus,  our  King,  hear, 
we  beseech  thee,  our  prayers, 
and  we  shall  be  saved  ; 


*  Dum  veneris  judicare 
sseculum  per  ignem. 

V-  Lauda,  anima  mea,  Do- 
minum ;  laudabo  Dominum 
in  vita  mea,  et  in  carne  mea 
videbo  Deum ; 

*  Dum  veneris  judicare 
saeculum  per  ignem. 

ft.  Quando  Deus  filius  Vir- 

ginis 
Judicare  sseculum  venerit, 
Dicet  justis  ad  dexteram  po- 

sitis  : 
Accedite,  dilecti  filii, 
Vobis  dare  regnum  disposui. 
O  felix  vox  !   felix  promis- 

sio  ! 
Felix  dator  et  felix  datio  ! 

*  Quando  cceli  movendi 
sunt  et  terra. 

ft.  Post  hsec  dicet  ad  lse- 

vam  positis  : 
Nescio  vos,  cultores  criminis : 
Vos  decepit  gloria  sseculi ; 
Descendite  ad  ima  barathri, 
Cum  Zabulon  et  suis  minis- 

tris. 
0  proh  dolor  !  quanta  tris- 

titia  ! 
Quantus  luctus  !  quanta  sus- 

piria ! 
5£  f*  Dum    veneris     judicare 
sseculum  per  ignem. 
ft.  Jam  festinat    Eex   ad 

judicium, 
Dies    instat     horrenda    ni- 

mium ; 
Et  quis  erit  nobis  refugium  ? 
Nisi  Mater  Virgo,  spes  om- 
nium, 
Quae  pro  nobis  exoret  Fili- 

um. 
O  Jesu  Eex,  exaudi  posci- 

mus 
Preces   nostras,  et  salvi  eri- 

mus  : 


182 


ADVENT. 


*  Quando  coeli  movendi 
sunt  et  terra. 

$\  Creator  omnium  reruni 
Deus,  qui  me  de  limo  terras 
formasti,  et  mirabiliter  pro- 
prio  sanguine  redemisti,  cor- 
pusque  meum,  licet  modo 
putrescat,  de  sepulchro  fades 
in  die  judicii  recuscitari  ;  ex- 
audi,  exaudi  me,  ut  animam 
meam  in  sinu  Abraham  patri- 
archse  tui  jubeas  collocari  ; 


*  Dum    veneris   judicare 
sasculum  per  ignem. 


*  When  heaven  and  earth 
are  to  be  moved. 

y.  O  God,  the  Creator  of 
all  things,, 'who  hast  formed 
me  from  the  slime  of  the 
earth,  and  hast  wonderfully 
redeemed  me  by  thine  own 
Blood,  and  on  the  day  of 
judgment  will  make  this  my 
now  corruptible  body  to  rise 
again  from  the  grave ;  hear, 
O  hear  me,  and  mercifully 
lead  my  soul  into  the  bosom 
of  thy  patriarch  Abraham  ; 

*  When  thou  shalt  come  to 
judge  the  world  by  fire. 


PEAYEE  FEOM  THE  AMBEOSIAN  LITUEGY. 


(In  the  Third  Week  of  Advent.) 


Omnipotens  Christe,  Fili 
Dei,  in  die  Nativitatis  tuse 
propitius  ad  salvandum  in 
te  populum  veni  :  ut  benig- 
nitate,  solita  ab  omni  dubie- 
tate,  et  metu  temporis  nos 
jubeas  liberari.  Qui  vivis  et 
regnans,  &c. 


O  Jesus  Almighty,  Son  of 
God,  mercifully  come  and 
save  thy  people  on  the  day 
of  thy  Nativity  ;  and  deign, 
with  thy  wonted  compassion, 
to  deliver  us  from  all  the 
anxieties  and  fears  of  this 
present  time.  Who  livest 
and  reignest  for  ever  and 
ever.    Amen. 


SECOND  TUESDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


183 


TUESDAY 

OF  THE  SECOND  WEEK   OF  ADVENT. 


Come,  let  us  adore  the  King        Eegeni   venturuni    Domi- 
our  Lord,  who  is  to  come.  num,  venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 

Cap.  XIV. 

Prope  est  ut  veniat  tempus 
ejus,  et  dies  ejus  non  elon- 
gabuntur.  Miserebitur  enim 
Dominus  Jacob,  et  eliget  ad- 
huc  de  Israel,  et  requiescere 
eos  f  aciet  super  humum  suam : 
adjungetur  ad  vena  ad  eos,  et 
adhaarebit  domui  Jacob.  Et 
tenebunt  eos  populi,  et  ad- 
ducent eos  in  locum  suum  : 
et  possidebit  eos  domus  Israel 
super  terram  Domini  in  ser- 
vos et  ancillas :  et  erunt 
capientes  eos  qui  se  ceperant, 
et  subjicient  exactores  suos. 
Et  erit  in  die  ilia,  cum  re- 
quiem dederit  tibi  Deus  a 
labore  tuo  et  a  concussione 
tua,  et  a  servitute  dura,  qua 
ante  servisti  :  sumes  para- 
bolam  istam  contra  regem 
Babylonis,  et  dices :  Quo- 
modo  cessavit  exactor,  quie- 
vit  tributum  1  Contrivit  Do- 
minus baculum  impiorum, 
virgam  dominantium,  _  cae- 
dentemvpopulos  in  indigna- 
tione,  plaga  insanabili,  sub- 
jicientem  in  furore  Gentes, 
persequentem  crudeliter. 
Quomodo  cecidisti  de  ccelo, 


From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 

Ck  XIV. 

Her  time  is  near  at  hand, 
and  her  days  shall  not  be 
prolonged.  For  the  Lord 
will  have  mercy  on  Jacob, 
and  will  yet  choose  out  of 
Israel,  and  will  make  them 
rest  upon  their  own  ground  : 
and  the  stranger  shall  be 
joined  with  them,  and  shall 
adhere  to  the  house  of  Jacob. 
And  the  people  shall  take 
them,  and  bring  them  into 
their  place :  the  house  of 
Israel  shall  possess  them  in 
the  land  of  the  Lord  for 
servants  and  handmaids : 
and  they  shall  make  them 
captives  that  had  taken  them, 
and  shall  subdue  their  op- 
pressors. And  it  shall  come 
to  pass  in  that  day,  that  when 
God  shall  give  thee  rest  from 
thy  labour,  and  from  thy 
vexation,  and  from  the  hard 
bondage,  wherewith  thou 
didst  serve  before,  thou  shalt 
take  up  this  parable  against 
the  King  of  Babylon,  and 
shalt  say :  "  How  is  the  op- 
pressor come  to  nothing, 
"the    tribute   hath  ceased] 


184 


ADVENT. 


Lucifer,  qui  mane  oriebaris  1 
corruisti  in  terrain,  qui  vul- 
nerabas  gentes  :  qui  dicebas 
in  corde  tuo  :  In  ceelum  con- 
scendam ;  super  astra  Dei 
exaltabo  solium  meum,  se- 
debo  in  monte  testament!,  in 
lateribus  Aquilonis  :  ascen- 
dam  super  altitudinem  nubi- 
um,  similis  ero  Altissimo. 
Verumtamen  ad  infernum 
detraheris  in  profundum 
laci. 


"  The  Lord  hath  broken  the 
"  staff  of  the  wicked,  the  rod 
"  of  the  rulers,  that  struck 
"the  people  in  wrath  with 
"an  incurable  wound,  that 
"brought  nations  under  in 
"fury,  that  persecuted  in  a 
"cruel  manner.  How  art 
"  thou  fallen  from  heaven,  O 
"Lucifer,  who  didst  rise  in 
"  the  morning  %  how  art  thou 
"fallen  to  the  earth,  that 
"  didst  wound  the  nations  : 
"and  thou  saidst  in  thy 
"  heart :  I  will  ascend  into 
"heaven,  I  will  exalt  my 
"throne  above  the  stars  of 
"  God,  I  will  sit  in  the  moun- 
"  tain  of  the  covenant,  in  the 
"sides  of  the  North  :  I  will 
"  ascend  above  the  height  of 
"  the  clouds,  I  will  be  like  the 
"  Most  High.  But  yet  thou 
"  shalt  be  brought  down  to 
"hell  into  the  depth  of  the 
"pit." 


Thy  ruin,  0  Lucifer,  is  irreparable !  Thou  re- 
fusedst  to  humble  thyself  before  God,  and  thou  wast 
cast  into  hell.  Thy  pride  then  sought  a  compensa- 
tion for  this  thy  deep  humiliation,  and  thou  causedst 
the  ruin  of  the  human  race,  out  of  hatred  for  God 
and  his  creatures.  Thou  didst  succeed  in  inspiring 
hirn,  who  was  formed  out  of  dust,  with  that  same 
pride  which  had  caused  thine  own  destruction.  By 
thee,  sin  came  into  this  world,  and  by  sin  death  :  the 
human  race  seemed  now  a  victim  which  never  could 
escape  thy  vengeance.  Forced  to  give  up  thy  hopes 
of  a  heavenly  royalty,  thou  aimedst  to  reign  in  Hell 
and  destroy  the  creatures  of  God  as  they  came  from 
his  creating  love.  But  again  thou  art  foiled  and 
conquered.     Thy  reign  was  in  pride ;  pride   alone 


SECOND  TUESDAY  OF  ADVENT.  185 

could  form  thy  court  and  give  thee  subjects ;  now, 
see  how  the  Sovereign  Lord  of  all  things  uproots  thy 
kingdom  :  he  himself  comes  to  teach  his  creatures 
humility,  and  he  teaches  it,  not  by  laws  given  with 
awful  majesty,  as  once  on  Sinai,  but  by  himself  meekly 
practising  that  heavenly  humility,  which  alone  can 
raise  up  them  that  had  fallen  by  pride.  Tremble, 
proud  Spirit,  thy  sceptre  is  to  be  broken ! 

In  thy  haughty  wisdom, thou  disdainest  this  humble 
and  lovely  Virgin  of  Nazareth,  who  holds  within  her- 
self, in  adoring  silence,  the  mystery  of  thy  ruin  and 
our  salvation.  The  Child  she  carries  in  her  womb, 
and  is  so  soon  to  be  born,  has  long  since  been  the  ob- 
ject of  thy  contempt.  Know,  then,  that  God  does  not 
disdain  this  unborn  Child,  for  this  Child  is  also  God  I 
and  a  single  act  of  adoration  and  devotedness  to  his 
Father,  which  he  is  making  in  the  womb  of  Mary, 
gives  more  glory  to  the  Divinity  than  all  thy  pride 
could  rob  it  of,  even  were  thy  pride  to  increase  for 
eternity.  Henceforth,  men,  taught  by  the  lessons  of 
a  God  the  immense  power  of  humility,  will  have  re- 
course to  it  as  their  great  remedy.  Instead  of  exalt- 
ing themselves,  as  thou  didst,  by  a  mad  and  guilty 
pride,  they  will  humble  themselves  with  love  and 
pleasure:  the  lower  they  humble  themselves,  the 
higher  will  God  raise  them  :  the  poorer  they  own 
themselves,  the  richer  will  he  make  them.  It  is  the 
glorious  Virgin  that  tells  us  this  in  her  exquisite 
Canticle.  May  she  be  ever  blessed,  Mother  so  gentle 
and  sweet  to  her  children,  and  so  terrible  to  thee, 
Lucifer !  that  writhest  beneath  her  as  she  crushes  and 
conquers  thee. 


186 


ADVENT. 


PROSE  FOR  THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 

{Composed  in  the  Wth  century,  and  taken  from  the  ancient 
Roman-French  Missals.) 


Regnantem  sempiterna  per 
saeela  susceptura 

Concio,  devote  concrepa  : 
Factori  redde  debita. 

Quern  jubilant  agmina  coe- 
lica,  ejus  vultu  exhilarata. 


Quern  exspectant  omnia 
terrea,  ejus  vultu  exami- 
nanda, 

Districtum  ad  judicia, 

Clementem  in  potentia. 

Tua  nos  salva,  Ckriste, 
dementia  propter  quos  pas- 
sus  es  dira. 

Ad  poli  astra  subleva  ni- 
tida  :  qui  sorde  tergis  ssecula. 


Infiuens  salus  vera,  effuga 
pericula. 

Omnia  ut  sint  munda,  tri- 
bue  pacifica. 

Ut  hie  tua  salvi  miseri- 
cordia  :  lseti  regna  post  adea- 
mus  supera. 

Qui  regnas  sascula  per  in- 
finita.    Amen. 


Ready  to  receive  him  who 
reigneth  for  ever  and  ever, 

Devoutly  sing,  O  Christian 
people ;  pay  thy  homage  to 
thy  Creator. 

The  heavenly  hosts,  who 
enjoy  the  beauty  of  his  coun- 
tenance, are  ever  praising  him 
in  jubilation. 

All  earthly  things,  which 
are  to  be  examined  before  his 
face,  are  in  expectation  of 
him, 

Him  so  severe  in  judgment, 

So  merciful  in  power. 

Save  us  in  thy  mercy,  O 
Christ,  for  whom  thou  didst 
suffer  so  cruel  a  passion. 

Raise  us  up  to  the  bright 
stars  of  heaven,  O  thou  that 
dost  take  away  the  sins  of  the 
earth. 

True  Saviour,  descending 
as  dew  upon  us,  drive  all 
dangers  from  us. 

Purify  all  that  is  about  us, 
make  all  in  peace  ; 

That  here  protected  by  thy 
mercy,  we  may  ascend,  here- 
after, into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  in  gladness. 

Who  livest  and  reignest  for 
endless  ages.    Amen. 


PRAYER  FROM  THE  GALLIC  AN  SACRAMENTARY. 

(Mass  for  Christmas  Eve.) 


Misericors  ac  piissime  Deus, 
cujus  voluntate  ac  mu- 
nere  Dominus  noster  Jesus 


O  merciful  and  most  loving 
God,  by  whose  will  and 
bounty  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 


SECOND  TUESDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


178 


humbled  himself  that  he 
might  exalt  the  whole  human 
race,  and  came  down  to  what 
was  lowest,  that  he  might 
raise  up  the  humble  :  who, 
being  God,  did  become  man, 
born  of  a  Virgin,  to  the  end 
that  he  might  reform  in  man 
the  heavenly  image  that  had 
been  corrupted ;  grant,  that 
this  thy  people  may  cling  to 
thee,  and  that  they  whom 
thou  hast  redeemed  by  thy 
bounty,  may  ever  please  thee 
by  devoted  service. 


Christus  ad  hoc  sehumiliavit, 
ut  totum  genus  exaltaret 
humanum,  et  ideo  ad  ima 
descenderet,  ut  humilia  subli- 
maret :  ac  propterea  Deus 
homonascitur  perVirginem, 
ut  in  homine  perditam  coeles- 
tem  reformaret  imaginem : 
da  ut  plebs  hsec  tibi  adhaereat, 
ut  quam  redemisti  tuo  mu- 
nere,  tibi  semper  devota  pla- 
ceat  servitute. 


188 


ADVENT. 


WEDNESDAY 

OF  THE  SECOND  WEEK  OF  ADVENT. 


Come,  let  us  adore  the 
King  our  Lord,  who  is  to 
come. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 
Gh.  XVI. 

Send  forth,  O  Lord,  the 
Lamb  the  ruler  of  the  earth, 
from  Petra  of  the  desert  to 
the  mount  of  the  daughter  of 
Sion.  And  it  shall  come  to 
pass,  that  as  a  bird  fleeing 
away,  and  as  young  ones 
flying  out  of  the  nest,  so  shall 
the  daughters  of  Moab  be  in 
the  passage  of  Arnon.  Take 
council,  gather  a  council, 
make  thy  shadow  as  the  night 
in  the  mid-day:  hide  them 
that  flee,  and  betray  not  them 
that  wander  about.  My  fugi- 
tives shall  dwell  with  thee: 
O  Moab,  be  thou  a  covert  to 
them  from  the  face  of  the 
destroyer.  For  the  dust  is  at 
an  end,  the  wretch  is  con- 
sumed, he  hath  failed  that 
trod  the  earth  under  foot. 
And  a  throne  shall  be  pre- 
pared in  mercy,  and  one  shall 
sit  upon  it  in  truth  in  the 
tabernacle  of  David,  judging 
and  seeking  judgment,  and 
quickly  rendering  that  which 
is  just. 


Send  forth  to  us,  0  Lord,  the  Lamb :  "It  is  the 
Lamb,"  says  Peter  of  Celles,  "  it  is  the  Lamb  we 


Regem    venturum   Domi- 
num  venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 
Cap.  XVI. 
Emitte  Agnum  Domine, 
dominatorem  terrae,  de  petra 
deserti  ad  montem  filise  Sion. 
Et  erit  :  sicut  avis  f ugiens,  et 
pulli  de  nido  avolantes,  sic 
erunt  filise  Moab  in  trans- 
censu  Arnon.  Ini  consilium, 
coge  consilium,  pone  quasi 
noctem  umbram  tuam  in  me- 
ridie  :  absconde  fugientes,  et 
vagos  ne  prodas.  Habitabunt 
apud  te  profugi  mei :  Moab, 
esto  latibulum  eorum  a  facie 
vastatoris.  Finitus  est  enim 
pulvis,  consummatus  est 
miser,  defecit  qui  conculcabat 
terram.  Et  prseparabitur  in 
misericordia  solium,et  sedebit 
super  illud  in  veritate,  in 
tabernaculo^  David,  Judicans 
et  quserens  j  iidicium,  etvelo- 
citer  reddens  quod  justum 
est. 


SECOND  WEDNESDAY  OF  ADVENT.  189 

"  need,  and  not  the  Lion ;  the  Lamb  that  knows 
"no  anger,  and  whose  meekness  is  never  ruffled; 
"the  Lamb  that  will  give  us  his  snow-white  wool 
"  to  warm  our  coldness,  and  cover  our  naked- 
"  ness ;  the  Lamb  that  will  give  us  his  flesh  to  eat, 
"  lest  we  faint  with  hunger  on  the  way.  Send 
"  him  full  of  wisdom,  for  in  his  divine  prudence  he 
"  will  vanquish  the  spirit  of  pride ;  send  him  full  of 
"  strength,  for  it  is  written  that  the  Lord  is  strong 
"  and  mighty  in  battle  ;  send,  him  full  of  meekness, 
"for  he  is  to  come  down  as  dew  that  falls  on  the 
"  fleece ;  send  him  as  a  victim,  for  he  is  to  be  sold 
"  and  immolated  for  our  ransom ;  send  him  the  par- 
"  doner  of  sinners,  for  he  is  come  to  call  them,  and 
"  not  the  just ;  send  him  to  receive  power  and  divinity, 
"  he  that  is  worthy  to  loose  the  seven  seals  of  the 
"  sealed  book,  the  unspeakable  mystery  of  the  Incar- 
"  nation."1  Thou  art  King,  then,  O  Divine  Lamb  ! 
Thou  art,  even  now,  in  thy  Mother's  womb,  the 
sovereign  Ruler.  This  virginal  womb  is  a  throne  of 
mercy  whereon  thou  art  seated  in  humility,  ready  to 
avenge  our  rights  and  confound  our  cruel  enemy. 
O  most  dear  King !  our  eyes  cannot  yet  behold  thee, 
but  our  hearts  tell  us  thou  art  near  us.  We  know 
that  it  is  for  our  sakes  that  thou  hast  put  on  this 
strange  royalty.  Suffer  us  to  approach  thee,  and 
offer  thee  our  homage  and  loyalty,  even  now  that  a 
cloud  hides  thee  from  our  sight.  A  few  days  more, 
and  thou  wilt  be  seated  on  another  throne,  thy 
Mother's  arms,  and  then  all  the  earth  will  see  the 
salvation  that  is  sent  unto  it. 

HYMN  TAKEN  FROM  THE  ANTHOLOGY  OF  THE  GREEKS. 

{December  the  2,0th.) 

Cave  of  Bethlehem,  be  Spelunca,  parare ;  Agna 
ready,  for  here  comes  the  enim  venit  fcetum  gerens 
Mother  bearing  Christ,  her    Christum  :     recipe,     praese- 

1  Third  Sermon  for  Advent. 


190 


ADVENT. 


pium,  ilium  qui  nos  terri- 
genas  verbo  solvit  ineffabili 
modo  :  pastores  de  nocte  vi- 
gilantes, prodigiosum  confi- 
temini  miraculum  ;  magique 
e  Perside  auruni,  thus  et 
myrrham  Regi  afferte  :  quia 
visus  est  e  Virgine  inatre 
Dominus,  quern  et  ipsa  prona 
servili  modo,  mater  adoravit, 
et  ei  quern  in  brachiis  suis 
tenebat  dixit  :  Quomodo  in 
me  inseminatus  es  :  vel  quo 
modo  in  me  ingeneratus  es, 
Salvater  meus  et  Deus  % 


Audi,  coelum,  et  intellige 
terra  ;  ecce  enim  Filius  Ver- 
bumque  Dei  Patris  progre- 
ditur  ad  nascendum  ex  Vir- 
gine inexperta  virum,  sine 
dolore  ilium  pariente  et  vir- 
tute  Spiritus  Sancti.  Beth- 
lehem parare ;  aperi  januain, 
Eden  :  nam  qui  Est  fit  qui 
non  erat,  et  plasturgus  omnis 
creaturse  plasmatur  ipse, 
afferens  mundo  magnam 
misericordiam. 


Natura  immense,  Christe 
Eex,  quomodo  parva  te  re- 
cipiet  spelunca  ]  Quomodo 
prsesepe  te  poterit  continere, 
Jesu,  ex  Matre  nesciente 
virum,  advena  factus  in  pro- 
pria, ut  hospites  ipse  salves  % 


Novum  facta  coelum,  Do- 
mina,  e  vulva  tua,  sicut  e 
nebula  Christum  solem  glo- 


Lamb,  in  her  womb  ;  and 
thou,  O  Crib,  receive  him 
who  delivers  us  mortals  by 
his  word  ineffably  ;  ye  Shep- 
herds, keeping  your  night- 
watch,  tell  the  wondrous 
miracle ;  ye  Magi,  from  Per- 
sia, bring  to  the  King  gold, 
incense,  and  myrrh  ;  for  the 
Lord  hath  appeared,  born  of  a 
Virgin  Mother,  before  whom 
she  herself  falls  down,  and 
though  his  Mother,  yet  adores 
him  as  his  lowly  handmaid, 
and  then  taking  him  into  her 
arms,  she  says  unto  him :  O 
my  Saviour,  my  God,  how  is 
it  that  thou  earnest  into  me, 
and  wast  produced  in  me  1 

Hear,  0  ye  heavens,  and 
thou,  O  earth,  attend  :  the 
Son  and  Word  of  God  the 
Father  is  to  be  born  of  a 
Virgin  that  knows  not  man, 
and  travails  not  when  giving 
him  birth,  for  all  is  by  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Bethlehem,  be  ready  !  Eden, 
open  thy  gates  !  for  he  that 
Is  is  made  what  he  was  not, 
and  he  that  formed  all  crea- 
tures receives  himself  a 
created  form,  bringing  to  the 
world  plentiful  mercy. 

O  thou  that  art  immense 
by  Nature,  O  Christ  our 
King,  how  shall  a  little  cave 
receive  thee?  How  shall  a 
crib  contain  thee,  0  Jesus, 
Son  _  of  a  spotless  Virgin, 
making  thyself  a  stranger  in 
thine  own  house,  that  thou 
mayest  give  salvation  to  them 
that  harbour  thee  1 

Thou  art  a  new  heaven,  O 
Lady  !  Hasten  to  make  arise 
from  thy  womb,  as  from  a 


SECOND  WEDNESDAY   OF  ADVENT. 


191 


cloud,  Christ,  the  Sun  of 
glory ;  may  he  appear  in  the 
flesh,  in  the  cave,  shedding 
thence  to  the  ends  of  the 
world  his  dazzling  splendour, 
by  his  immense  mercy. 

Thou  knowest,  O  merciful 
Jesus,  our  pains  and  misery, 
and  thou  despisest  us  not ; 
but  emptiest  thyself  even 
before  leaving  thy  Mother's 
virginal  womb,  where  thou 
hast  set  thy  tabernacle  ;  this 
thy  Mother  will  travail  not 
in  giving  thee  birth  in  the 
cave,  thou  who  art  made  flesh. 

Mountains  and  hills,  val- 
leys and  plains,  peoples  and 
tribes,  nations  and  every 
spirit,  sing  the  song  of  vic- 
tory !  the  fulness  of  a  divine 
joy  is  coming,  and  all  are  to 
be  redeemed,  for  the  Word  of 
God,  who  is  beyond  all  time, 
is  now  made  in  time. 

Now  is  coming  towards 
us  the  heavenly  vine,  on 
which  has  ripened  the  im- 
mortal fruit ;  she  comes  to 
produce  for  us  the  wine  of 
joy,  of  which  she  will  give  us 
to  drink  :  we  will  then  sing 
to  him,  Blessed  art  thou,  our 
God! 

There  is  advancing  the 
vessel  bearing  the  divine  per- 
fume, and  she  will  place  it  in 
the  cave  of  Bethlehem,  and 
we,  filled  with  the  mystic 
fragrance,  will  sing,  Blessed 
art  thou,  O  God  of  our 
Fathers  ! 

Thou,  O  Mary,  art  like 
that  instrument  which  Isaias 
saw  of  old,  holding  in  thy 
womb  the  Christ,  who,  like 


rise  oriri  facere  festines  in 
spelunca  carnaliter,  omnes 
terrse  fines  suis  splendoribus 
fulgentissime  irracliaturum, 
per  incommensurabilem  mi- 
sericordiam. 

Noscis  nostrum  dolorem 
et  miseriam,  misericors 
Christe,  et  nos  non  despicis  ; 
sed  exinanis  temetipsum,  non 
adhuc  egressus  ex  tua  geni- 
trice ;  tabernaculumque  figens 
in  matrice  nuptinescia,  quae 
sine  dolore  te  pariet  in  spe- 
lunca caro  factum. 

Montes  et  colles,  valles  et 
campi,  populi  et  tribus,  gen- 
tes  ac  oninis  spiritus,  alalag- 
mum  agite  ;  lsetitiae  divinse 
venit  plenitudo,  omnium  acl- 
venit  redemptio,  Yerbum  Dei 
tempora  nesciens  per  miseri- 
corcliam  factum  sub  tempore. 

Vitis  clivina  incorruptam 
maturitate  nigrescere  faciens 
uvam,  appropinquat  ;  pari- 
tura  venit  laetitise  vinum  sca- 
turiens  et  nos  bibere  faciens 
ipsi  canentes  :  Deus  noster, 
benedictus  es  ! 


Myrotheca  divina,  intus 
myrum  f  erens  graditur,  ut  in 
spelunca  Bethlehem  effundat 
illud  a  quo  mystico  replentur 
odore  canentes :  Deus  Pa- 
trum,  benedictus  es  ! 


Forceps  quam  olim  vidit 
Isaias  Propheta,  divinum  car- 
bonem  Christum  in  utero 
geris        omnem      materiam 


192 


ADVENT. 


peccati  comburentem,  fideli- 
umque  animas  illuminantem. 


Finem  habuerunt  Prophe- 
tarum  prseconia  ;  quern  enim 
prsenuntiarunt  in  temporis 
plenitudine  venturam,  adest, 
apparet,  casta  ex  Virgine  cor- 
poratus ;  ilium  puris  menti- 
bus  excipiamus. 


a  burning  coal,  will  consume 
all  the  dross  of  sin,  and  will 
enlighten  the  minds  of  the 
faithful. 

The  songs  of  the  Prophets 
are  hushed;  for  He,  whom 
they  announced  as  having  to 
come  in  the  fulness  of  time, 
is  present,  and  appears  to  us, 
having  assumed  a  body  from 
the  chaste  Virgin  :  let  us  re- 
ceive him  with  pure  hearts. 


PRAYER  FROM  THE  MOZARABIC  MISSAL. 

{Second  Sunday  of  Advent.) 


Jucundatur,  Domine,  et 
tripudiat  terra ;  quia  Ver- 
bum  caro  factum  habitat  in 
sacrse  Virginis  membra.  In 
cujus  adventu  omnis  de  cap- 
tivitate  redimitur  terra  ;  quae 
detinebatur  per  transgres- 
sionem  Adse  in  obscurata 
gehenna.  Nunc  moveatur 
mare,  et  omnia  quae  in  eo 
sunt ;  montes  exsultent  et 
omnia  ligna  silvarum  ;  quia 
Deus  homo  dignatur,  per  ute- 
rum  beatae  Virginis  Marise, 
de  ccelo  in  mundum  venire. 
Per  ipsius  igitur  adventum 
te  deprecamur,  omnipotens 
Deus,  ut  nostrse  carnis  fra- 
gilitatem  a  vinculis  peccato- 
rum  absolvas,  et  prsesenti 
f  amiliae  tuse  misericordia  ple- 
nus  occurras. 


The  earth  is  glad,  0  Lord, 
and  leaps  with  joy,  for  that 
the  Word  made  flesh  dwells 
in  the  womb  of  the  Holy 
Virgin.  At  his  Coming, 
the  whole  earth  is  ransomed 
from  captivity,  after  having 
been  kept,  by  Adam's  sin,  in 
a  dark  prison.  Now  let  the 
sea  be  moved,  and  all  things 
that  are  therein ;  let  the 
mountains  leap  with  joy,  and 
all  the  trees  of  the  forests ; 
because  God,  having  become 
man,  has  deigned  to  come, 
through  the  womb  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  from 
heaven  into  this  world.  By 
this  his  Coming,  therefore 
we  beseech  thee,  O  Almighty 
God,  that  thou  loose  the 
weakness  of  our  flesh  from 
the  bonds  of  sin,  and  come, 
in  thy  overflowing  mercy,  to 
the  assistance  of  this  thy 
family  here  present  before 
thee. 


SECOND  THUKSDAY  OF   ADVENT. 


193 


THURSDAY 

OF   THE   SECOND  WEEK   OF  ADVENT. 


Regem   venturum    Domi- 
num,  venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 
Cap.  XIX. 
Onus  iEgypti.  Ecce  Do- 
minus  ascendet  super  nubem 
levem  :  et  ingredietur  iEgyp- 
tum  :  et  commovebuntur 
simulacra  iEgypti  a  facie 
ejus,  et  cor  iEgypti  tabescet 
in  medio  ejus  :  et  concurrere 
faciam  iEgyptios  adversus 
iEgyptios,  et  pugnabit  vir 
contra  fratrem  suum,  et  vir 
contra  amicum  suum,  civitas 
adversus  civitatem,  regnum 
adversus  regnum. 


Come,  let  us  adore  the  King 
our  Lord,  who  is  to  come. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 
Ch.  XIX. 

The  burden  of  Egypt.  Be- 
hold the  Lord  will  ascend 
upon  a  light  cloud :  and 
will  enter  into  Egypt :  and 
the  idols  of  Egypt  shall  be 
moved  at  his  presence,  and 
the  heart  of  Egypt  shall  melt 
in  the  midst  thereof  :  and  I 
will  set  the  Egyptians  to  fight 
against  the  Egyptians,  and 
they  shall  fight  brother 
against  brother,  and  friend 
against  friend,  city  against 
city,  kingdom  against  king- 
dom. 


The  Egypt,  which  the  Lord  is  here  represented  as 
visiting,  and  whose  idols  and  empire  he  will  overthrow, 
is  the  City  of  Satan,  which  is  to  be  destroyed,  and 
give  place  to  the  City  of  God.  But  how  peaceful  is 
the  divine  Conqueror's  entrance  into  his  conquest  ! 
it  is  on  a  cloud,  a  light  cloud,  that  he  comes,  as  on  his 
triumphal  chariot.  How  many  mysteries  in  these 
few  words  !  "  There  are  three  Clouds,"  says  Peter  of 
Blois ;  "  the  first,  the  obscurity  of  the  Prophets ;  the 
"  second,  the  depth  of  the  divine  Decrees ;  the  third, 
"  the  prodigy  of  a  Virgin  Mother."1  First,  as  to  the 
obscurity  of  the  Prophets,  it  is  essential  to  every 


Second  Sermon  of  Advent. 


194  ADVENT. 

Prophecy  that  it  be  thus  veiled,  to  the  end  that 
man's  free  will  may  not  be  interfered  with ;  but 
under  this  cloud  the  Lord  comes  at  last,  and  when 
the  day  comes  for  the  Prophecy  to  be  accomplished, 
all  things  are  clear  enough.  Thus  was  it  with  the 
first  Coming  ;  so  will  it  be  with  the  second.  Then, 
as  to  the  Decrees  of  God ;  as  they  are  ordinarily 
made  manifest  by  second,  that  is,  by  created,  causes 
only, — it  almost  always  happens,  that  the  extreme 
simplicity  of  the  means  employed  by  the  divine 
Wisdom  takes  men  by  surprise.  Never  was  this  so 
observable  as  in  the  grand  event  of  the  Incarnation. 
Men  would  naturally  expect  that,  in  restoring  a 
fallen  world,  a  power,  equal,  at  least,  to  that  which 
first  created  it,  would  be  displayed  ;  and  all  they  are 
told  about  the  portent  is  :  You  will  find  the  Child 
wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes,  and  laid  in  a 
manger  I  O  almighty  power  of  God,  how  dazzling 
is  thy  light  through  this  Cloud  !  how  strong  art  thou 
in  this  apparent  weakness  ! 

But  there  is  the  third  Cloud;  it  is  the  Virgin 
Mary ;  a  light  cloud,  "  for,"  says  St.  Jerome,  "  neither 
"  concupiscence,  nor  the  burden  of  earthly  marriage, 
"  weigh  upon  her ;"  a  Cloud,  too,  laden  with  a  re- 
freshing Dew,  since  it  holds  the  Just  One,  who  is  to 
be  rained  down  upon  us,  that  our  seething  passions 
may  be  quenched,  and  the  soil  of  our  spiritual  life 
made  fertile.  How  sweet  is  the  majesty  of  our 
divine  King,  when  seen  thus  through  this  beautiful 
Cloud  !  O  incomparable  Virgin  !  the  whole  Church 
of  God  recognises  thee  in  that  mysterious  Cloud, 
which  the  Prophet  Elias,1  from  the  summit  of  Mount 
Carmel,  saw  rising  up  from  the  sea,  little,  at  first, 
like  a  man's  foot,  but  sending  at  last  such  a  plentiful 
rain  that  all  Israel  was  refreshed  by  its  abundance. 
Delay  not,  we  pray  thee  ;  give  us  that  heavenly  and 
divine  Dew  which  thou  possessest  within  thee ;  our 
1  III.  Kings,  xviii.  42,  43. 


SECOND   THUESDAY   OF   ADVENT. 


19i 


sins  have  made  the  heavens  as  brass,  and  we  are 
parched  ;  thou  alone  of  creatures  art  just  and  pure  ! 
Beseech  our  Lord,  who  has  set  up  his  Throne  of 
mercy  in  thee,  to  come  speedily  and  destroy  our 
enemies  and  bring  us  peace. 


HYMN   FOE   ADVENT. 


{The  Mozarabic  Breviary,  First  Sunday  of  Advent) 


The  almighty  King  of  the 
universe,  coming  to  save  the 
world,  assumed  to  himself  a 
body  like  unto  ours. 

He  who  reigns  with  the 
Most  High,  enters  the  Vir- 
gin's womb,  that  he  may  be 
born  in  the  flesh,  and  break 
the  bonds  of  death. 

The  nations  have  sat  in 
darkness  ;  but  they  shall  see 
the  brightest  light,  when  the 
Saviour  shall  come  to  re- 
deem his  creatures. 

He,  of  whom  the  future- 
seeing  oracles  of  the  Prophets 
anciently  sang,  shall  now 
come  in  glory  to  cure  our 
wounds. 

Let  us  now  be  glad  in  the 
Lord,  and  in  the  Son  of 
God,  and  be  ready  to  receive 
him  in  his  glorious  coming. 
Amen. 


Cunctorum     rex  omnipo- 
tens, 
Mundum  salvare  veniens, 
Formam  assumpsit  corporis 
Nostras  similitudinis. 

Qui  regnat  cum  Altissimo, 
Virginis  intrat  uterum, 
Nasciturus  in  corpore, 
Mortis  vincla  disrumpere. 

Gentes  erant  in  tenebris  : 
Videbunt  lumen  fulgoris, 
Cum  Salvator  advenerit 
Redimere  quos  condidit. 

Quern  olim  vatum  prsescia 
Cecinerunt  oracula, 
Nunc  veniet  in  gloria, 
Nostra  ut  curet  vulnera. 


nunc     in 


Do- 


Lsetemur 
mino, 
Simul  in  Dei  Filio, 
Parati  eum  suscipere 
Adventus  sui  gloria.     Amen. 


PEAYEE   FEOM   THE   AMBEOSIAN   BEEVIAEY. 

{Sixth  Sunday  of  Advent,  Preface.) 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 
right  and  available  to  salva- 
tion, that  we  should  give 
thanks  to  thee,  O  Lord  God 
almighty :  and  that  we  should, 
whilst  invoking  thy  power, 
celebrate  the  feasts  of  the 


Vere  dignum  et  justum 
est,a3quum  et  salutare  :  nos 
tibi,  Domine  Deus  omnipo- 
tens,  gratias  agere  :  et  cum 
fuse  invocatione  virtutis, 
beatse  Marias  Virginis  festa 
celebrare:    de   cujus  ventre 


196 


ADVENT. 


fructus  effloruit,  qui  Panis 
Angelici  munere  nos  replevit. 
Quod  Eva  voravit  in  crimine, 
Maria  restituit  in  salute. 
Distat  opus  serpentis  et  Vir- 
ginis.  Inde  fusa  sunt  venena 
discriminis :  hinc  egressa 
mysteria  Salvatoris.  Inde  se 
prsebuit  tentantis  iniquitas  : 
nine  Kedemptoris  est  opitu- 
lata  majestas.  Inde  partus 
occubuit ;  hinc  Conditor  re- 
surrexit,  a  quo  hum  ana  na- 
tura,  non  jam  captiva,  sed 
libera  restituitur.  Quod 
Adam  perdidit  in  parente, 
Christo  recepit  auctore. 


Blessed  Virgin  Mary ;  from 
whose  womb  grew  the  Fruit, 
which  has  filled  us  with  the 
Bread  of  Angels.  That  Fruit 
which  Eve  took  from  us  when 
she  sinned,  Mary  has  restored 
to  us,  and  it  has  saved  %s. 
Not  as  the  work  of  the  Ser- 
pent is  the  work  of  Mary. 
From  the  one,  came  the  poi- 
son of  our  destruction  ;  from 
the  other,  the  mysteries  of 
Salvation.  In  the  one,  we 
see  the  malice  of  the  temp- 
ter ;  in  the  other,  the  help  of 
the  divine  Majesty.  By  the 
one,  came  death  to  the  crea- 
ture ;  by  the  other,  the  re- 
surrection of  the  Creator,  by 
whom  human  nature,  now  not 
captive  but  free,  is  restored  ; 
and  what  it  lost  by  its  parent 
Adam,  it  regained  by  its 
Maker  Christ. 


SECOND   FRIDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


197 


FRIDAY 

OF  THE   SECOND  WEEK   OF  ADVENT. 


Come,  let  us  adore  the 
King  our  Lord,  who  is  to 
come. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 

Ch.  XXIV. 

Behold  the  Lord  shall  lay 
waste  the  earth,  and  shall 
strip  it :  and  shall  afflict  the 
face  thereof,  and  scatter 
abroad  the  inhabitants  there- 
of. And  it  shall  be  as  with 
the  people,  so  with  the  priest ; 
and  as  with  the  servant,  so 
with  his  master ;  as  with  the 
handmaid,  so  with  her  mis- 
tres  ;  as  with  the  buyer,  so 
with  the  seller  ;  as  with  the 
lender,  so  with  the  borrower ; 
as  with  him  that  calleth  for 
his  money,  so  with  him  that 
oweth.  With  desolation  shall 
the  earth  be  laid  waste,  and 
it  shall  be  utterly  spoiled : 
for  the  Lord  hath  spoken  this 
word.  The  earth  mourned, 
and  faded  away,  and  is  weak- 
ened :  the  world  faded  away, 
the  height  of  the  people  of 
the  earth  is  weakened.  And 
the  earth  is  infected  by  the 
inhabitants  thereof :  because 
they  have  transgressed  the 
laws,  they  have  changed  the 
ordinance,  they  have  broken 
the     everlasting    covenant. 


Begem  ^  venturum  Domi- 
num,  venite  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 

Cap.  XXIV. 

Ecce  Dominus  Dissipabit 
terram,  et  nudabit  earn ;  et 
affliget  faciem  ejus  et  dis- 
perget  habitatores  ejus.  Et 
erit  sicut  populus,  sic  sa- 
cerdos  ;  et  sicut  servus,  sic 
dominus  ejus  ;  sicut  ancilla, 
sic  domina  ejus ;  sicut  emens, 
sic  ille  qui  vendit ;  sicut 
fcenerator,  sic  is  qui  mu- 
tuum  accipit-  sicut  qui  re- 
petit,  sic  qui  debet.  Dissi- 
patione  dissipabitur  terra, 
et  direptione  prsedabitur : 
Dominus  enim  locutus  est 
verbum  hoc.  Luxit,  et  de- 
nuxit  terra,  et  infirmata  est : 
defluxit  orbis,  infirmata  est 
altitudo  populi  terras.  Et 
terra  infecta  est  ab  habita- 
toribus  suis  :  quia  transgressi 
sunt  leges,  mutaverunt  jus, 
dissipaverunt  foedus  sempi- 
ternum.  Propter  hoc  male- 
dictio  vorabit  terram,  et  pec- 
cabunt  habitatores  ejus, 
ideoque  insanient  cultores 
ejus :  et  relinquentur  ho- 
mines pauci.  Luxit  _  yinde- 
mia,  infirmata  est  vitis,  in- 


198 


ADVENT. 


Therefore  shall  a  curse  de- 
vour the  earth  and  the  inha- 
bitants thereof  shall  sin,  and 
therefore  they  that  dwell 
therein  shall  be  mad,  and  few 
men  shall  be  left.  The  vin- 
tage hath  mourned,  the  vine 
hath  languished  away,  all  the 
merry  hearted  have  sighed. 
The  mirth  of  timbrels  hath 
ceased,  the  noise  of  them  that 
rejoice  is  ended,  the  melody 
of  the  harp  is  silent.  They 
shall  not  drink  wine  with  a 
psalm  •  the  drink  shall  be 
bitter  to  them  that  drink  it. 
The  city  of  vanity  is  broken 
down,  every  house  is  shut  up, 
no  man  cometh  in.  There 
shall  be  a  crying  for  wine  in 
the  streets  :  all  mirth  is  for- 
saken, the  joy  of  the  earth 
is  gone  away.  Desolation  is 
felt  in  the  city,  and  calamity 
shall  oppress  the  gates.  For 
it  shall  be  thus  in  the  midst 
of  the  earth,  in  the  midst  of 
the  people,  as  if  a  few  olives 
that  remain  should  be  shaken 
out  of  the  olive  tree :  or 
grapes,  when  the  vintage  is 
ended.  These  shall  lift  up 
their  voice,  and  shall  give 
praise,  when  the  Lord  shall 
be  glorified,  they  shall  make 
a  joyful  noise  from  the  sea. 
Therefore  glorify  ye  the  Lord 
in  instruction  :  the  name  of 
the  Lord  God  of  Israel  in  the 
islands  of  the  sea.  From  the 
ends  of  the  earth  we  have 
heard  praises,  the  glory  of  the 
just  one. 

Thus  was  the  earth  in  desolation  when  the  Messias 
came  to  deliver  and  save  it.     So  diminished,  so  de- 
cayed, were  truths  among  the  children  of  men,1  that 
1  Ps.  xi.  2. 


gemuerunt  omnes  qui  lseta- 
bantur  corde.  Cessavit  gau- 
dium  tympanorum,  quievit 
sonitus  lsetantium,  conticuit 
dulcedo  citharae.  Cum  can- 
tico  nonbibent  vinum :  amara 
erit  potio  bibentibus  illam. 
Attrita  est  civitas  vanitatis  : 
clausa  est  omnis  domus,  nullo 
introeunte.  Clamor  erit  super 
vino  in  plateis  :  deserta  est 
omnis  lsetitia,  translatum  est 
gaudium  terrse.  Relicta  est 
in  urbe  solitudo,  et  calamitas 
opprimet  portas.  Quia  haec 
erunt  in  medio  terrse,  in 
medio  populorum  ;  quomodo 
si  pauese  olivae  quae  remanse- 
runt,  excutiantur  ex  olea  : 
et  racemi,  cum  fuerit  finita 
vindemia.  Hilevabuntvocem 
suam,  atque  laudabunt ;  cum 
glorificatus  fuerit  Dominus, 
hinnient  de  mari.  Propter 
hoc  in  doctrinis  glorificate 
Dominum,  in  insulis  maris 
nomen  Domini  Dei  Israel.  A 
finibus  terrse  laudes  audivi- 
mus,  gloriam  justL 


SECOND  FRIDAY  OF  ADVENT.  199 

the  human  race  was  bordering  on  its  ruin.  The 
knowledge  of  the  true  God  was  becoming  rarer  as 
the  world  got  older ;  idolatry  had  made  everything 
in  creation  an  object  of  its  adulterous  worship ;  the 
practical  result  of  a  religion  which  was  but  gross 
materialism,  was  frightful  immorality ;  man  was  for 
ever  at  war  with  man;  and  the  only  safeguards  of 
what  social  order  still  existed  in  the  world,  were  the 
execrable  laws  of  slavery  and  extermination.  Among 
the  countless  inhabitants  of  the  globe,  a  mere  hand- 
ful could  be  found  who  were  seeking  God  ;  they  were 
as  rare  as  the  olives  that  remain  on  the  tree  after  a 
careful  plucking,  or  as  grape-bunches  after  the  vin- 
tage is  ended.  Of  this  happy  few  were,  among  the 
Jewish  people,  those  true  Israelites  whom  our  Saviour 
chose  for  his  disciples ;  and,  among  the  Gentiles, 
the  Magi  that  came  from  the  East,  asking  for  the 
new-born  King;  and  later  on,  Cornelius  the  Centurion, 
whom  the  Angel  of  the  Lord  directed  to  St.  Peter. 
But,  with  what  faith  and  joy  did  they  not  acknow- 
ledge the  Incarnate  God  !  and  what  their  hymns  of 
glad  gratitude,  when  they  found  that  they  had  been 
privileged,  above  others,  to  see,  with  their  own  eyes, 
the  promised  Saviour ! 

Now,  all  this  will  again  happen  when  the  time 
draws  near  of  the  second  Coming  of  the  Messias. 
The  earth  will  once  more  be  filled  with  desolation, 
and  mankind  will  be  again  a  slave  of  its  self-de^rada- 
tion.  The  ways  of  men  will  again  grow  corrupt ;  and, 
this  time,  the  malice  of  their  evil  will  be  the  greater, 
because  they  will  have  received  Him  who  is  the  Light 
of  the  world,  the  Word  of  Life.  A  profound  sadness 
will  sit  heavy  on  all  nations,  and  every  effort  for 
their  well-being  will  seem  paralysed  ;  they,  and  the 
earth  they  live  on,  will  be  conscious  of  decrepitude  ; 
and  yet  it  will  never  once  strike  them  that  the  world 
is  drawing  to  an  end.  There  will  be  great  scandals  ; 
there  shall  fall  stars  from  heaven,  that  is,  many  of 


200  ADVENT. 

those  who  had  been  masters  in  Israel  shall  apostatise, 
and  their  light  shall  be  changed  into  darkness. 
There  shall  be  days  of  temptation,  and  faith  shall 
grow  slack ;  so  that  when  the  Son  of  Man  shall  ap- 
pear, faith  shall  scarce  be  found  on  the  earth.  Let  it 
not  be,  O  Lord,  that  we  live  to  see  those  days  of 
temptation ;  or,  if  it  be  thy  will  that  they  overtake 
us,  make  our  hearts  firm  in  their  allegiance  to  thy 
holy  Church,  -which  will  be  the  only  beacon  left  to 
thy  faithful  children  in  that  fierce  storm.  Grant,  O 
Lord,  that  we  may  be  of  the  number  of  those  chosen 
olives,  of  those  elect  bunches  of  grapes,  wherewith 
thou  wilt  complete  the  rich  harvest  which  thou  wilt 
garner  for  ever  into  thy  house.  Preserve  intact 
within  us  the  deposit  of  faith  which  thou  hast  in- 
trusted to  us ;  let  our  eye  be  fixed  on  that  Orient  of 
■  which  the  Church  speaks  to  us,  and  where  thou  art 
suddenly  to  appear  in  thy  majesty.  When  that  day 
of  thine  comes,  and  we  behold  thy  triumph,  we  will 
shout  our  glad  delight,  and  then,  like  eagles  which 
cluster  round  the  body,  we  shall  be  taken  up  to  meet 
thee  in  the  air,  as  thy  Apostle  speaks,  and  thus  shall 
we  for  ever  be  with  thee.1  Then  we  shall  hear  the 
praises  and  glory  of  the  Just  One,  from  the  ends  of 
this  earth,  which  it  is  thy  good  will  to  preserve  until 
the  decrees  of  thy  mercy  and  justice  shall  have  been 
fully  executed.  0  Jesus !  we  are  the  work  of  thy 
hands;  save  us,  and  be  merciful  to  us  on  that  great  day. 

HYMN   OF  ADVENT. 
{Mozarabic  Breviary,  in  the  Second  Week  of  Advent) 

A  Patre,  Unigenite,  Only  Begotten  Son  of  the 

Ad  nos  yenis  per  Virginem,  Father,  thou  comest  to  us  by 

Baptismi  rore  consecrans,  the  Virgin,  consecrating  us 

Cunctos  fide  regenerans.  all  by  the  dew  of  Baptism, 

and  by  faith  regenerating  us. 

De  ccelo  celsus  prodiens,  The    Most   High    coming 

Excepit  formam  hominis,  from  heaven   has  taken  on 

1 1.  Thess.  iv.  16. 


SECOND  FRIDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


201 


himself  the  form  of  man, 
returning  after  conquering 
death,  and  giving  us  the  joys 
of  a  new  life. 

Wherefore,  we  beseech  thee, 
O  Redeemer,  descend  upon 
us  in  thy  mercy,  and  give  to 
our  hearts  the  brightness  of 
the  divine  light. 

To  God  the  Father,  and  to 
his  Only  Son,  and  to  the 
Holy  Paraclete,  be  glory  for 
ever  and  ever. 

Amen. 


Victor  a  morte  rediens, 
Gaudia  vitse  largiens. 


Hoc  te,  Redemptor,  quae- 
sumus, 
Illabere  propitius, 
Clarumque  nostris  cordibus 
Lumen  praebe  deificum. 

Deo  Patri  sit  gloria 
Ej  usque  soli  Filio 
Cum  Spiritu  Paraclito, 
In  sempiterna  saecula. 

Amen. 


PRAYER  FROM  THE   GALLICAN  MISSAL. 

{In  Adventu  Domini,  Collecta.) 


Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  0 
Almighty  God,  that  our  souls 
be  filled  with  a  desire  of  being 
inflamed  with  thy  Spirit ; 
that,  being  nourished  with 
the  divine  gift,  as  lamps  with 
their  oil,  we  may  shine  as 
bright  lights  before  the  face 
of  Christ  thy  Son,  who  is 


Animae  nostrse,  quassu- 
mus,  omnipotens  Deus,  hoc 
potiantur  desiderio  :  ut  a 
tuo  Spiritu  inflammentur, 
ut  sicut  lampades  divino 
munere  satiati,  ante  con- 
spectum  venientis  Christi 
Filii  tui  velut  clara  lumina 
fulgeamus. 


202 


ADVENT. 


SATURDAY 

OF   THE   SECOND   WEEK   OF   ADVENT. 


Regem    venturum    Domi- 
nuiQ,  venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 
Gap.  XX  V. 
Domine,  Deus  meus  es  tu, 
exaltabo  te,  et  confitebor  no- 
mini  tuo  :  quoniam  fecisti 
mirabilia,  cogitation  es  anti- 
quas  fideles.  Amen.  Quia 
posuisti  civitatem  in  tumu- 
lum,  urbem  f  ortem  in  ruinam, 
domum  alienorum,  ut  non  sit 
civitas,  et  in  sempiternum 
non  gedificetur.  Super  hoc 
laudabit  te  populus  fortis, 
civitas  gentium  robustarum 
timebit  te.  Quia  factus  es 
fortitudo  pauperi,  fortitudo 
egeno  in  tribulatione  sua  : 
spes  a  turbine,  umbraculum 
ab  sestu.  Et  faciet  Dominus 
exercituum  omnibus  populis 
in  monte  hoc  convivium  pin- 
guium,  convivium  vindemise, 
pinguium  medullatorum,  vin- 
denrise  defaecatse.  Et  prseci- 
pitabit  in  monte  isto  faciem 
vinculi  colligati  super  onines 
populos,  et  telam  quam  ordi- 
tus  est  super  omnes  nationes. 
Prsecipitabit  mortem  in 
sempiternum  :  et  auferet  Do- 
minus Deus  lacrymam  ab 
omni  facie,  et  opprobrium 
populi  sui  auferet  de  universa 


Come,  let  us  adore  the  King 
our  Lord,  who  is  to  come. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 
Ch.  XXV. 

O  Lord,  thou  art  my  God, 
I  will  exalt  thee,  and  give 
glory  to  thy  name  :  for  thou 
hast  done  wonderful  things, 
thy  designs  of  old  faithful. 
Amen.  For  thou  hast  re- 
duced the  city  to  a  heap,  the 
strong  city  to  ruin,  the  house 
of  strangers  to  be  no  city,  and 
to  be  no  more  built  up  for 
ever.  Therefore  shall  a  strong 
people  praise  thee,  the  city 
of  mighty  nations  shall  fear 
thee.  .  .  Because  thou  hast 
been  a  strength  to  the  poor, 
a  strength  to  the  needy  in  his 
distress  :  a  refuge  from  the 
whirlwind,  a  shadow  from 
the  heat.  And  the  Lord  of 
hosts  shall  make  unto  all 
people,  in  this  mountain,  a 
feast  of  fat  things,  a  feast  of 
wine,  of  fat  things  full  of 
marrow,  of  wine  purified 
from  the  lees.  And  he  shall 
destroy  in  this  mountain  the 
face  of  the  bond  with  which 
all  people  are  tied,  and  the 
web  that  he  began  over  all 
nations.  He  shall  cast  death 
down  headlong  for  ever  :  and 


SECOND  SATUKDAY  OF  ADVENT.  203 

the  Lord    God    shall    wipe    terra  :  quia  Dominus  locutus 
away  tears  from  every  face,     est.      Et    dicet  in  die  ilia  : 
and  the  reproach  of  his  peo-    Ecce  Deus  noster  iste,  exspec- 
ple  he  shall  take  away  from    tavimus  enm,  et  salvabit  nos  : 
off  the  whole  earth  :  for  the    iste    Dominus,    sustinuimus 
Lord  hath  spoken  it.     And    eum,  exsultabimus  et  laetabi- 
they  shall  say  in  that  day  :    mur  in  Salutari  ejus. 
Lo,  this  is  our  God,  we  have 
waited  for  him,  and  he  will 
save  us  :  this  is  the  Lord,  we 
have    patiently    waited    for 
him,  and  we  shall  rejoice  and 
be  joyful  in  his  salvation. 

Yet  a  little  while,  and  the  conqueror  of  death  will 
appear,  and  then,  in  the  joy  of  our  hearts,  we  will 
say  :  Lo,  this  is  our  God  ;  we  have  waited  for  him, 
and  he  will  save  us  ;  we  have  patiently  tvaitedfor 
him  ;  this  is  he,  and  we  will  rejoice  and  be  joyful 
in  his  salvation.  Let  us,  therefore,  prepare  the  way 
of  the  Lord,  that  we  may  receive  him  worthily ;  and 
in  this  work  of  our  preparation,  let  us  have  recourse 
to  Mary.  Saturday  is  the  day  which  is  sacred  to 
her  ;  she  will  the  more  readily  grant  the  prayers  said 
to  her  upon  it.  Let  us  consider  her  in  her  grand 
privilege  of  being  full  of  grace,  carrying  in  her 
womb  Him  whom  we  so  long  to  possess.  If  we  ask 
her,  by  what  means  she  rendered  herself  worthy  of 
such  an  immense  favour,  she  will  tell  us  that  in 
her  was  simply  fulfilled  the  prophecy,  which  the 
Church  so  continually  repeats  during  these  days  of 
Advent  :  Every  valley  shall  be  filled  up.  The 
humble  Mary  was  the  valley  blessed  of  the  Lord  ;  a 
valley  beautiful  and  fertile,  in  which  God  sowed  the 
Divine  Wheat,  our  Saviour,  Jesus  :  for  it  is  written 
in  the  Psalm,  that  the  Valleys  shall  abound  with 
corn}  O  Mary !  it  was  thy  humility  that  drew 
down  upon  thee  the  admiration  of  thy  Creator.  If, 
from   the   high    heaven   where   he   dwells,   he   had 

1  Ps.  lxiv.  14. 


204 


ADVENT. 


perceived  a  Virgin  more  humble  in  her  love,  he 
would  have  chosen  her  in  preference  to  thee  :  but  no, 
it  was  thou  that  didst  win  his  predilection,  O  mystic 
valley,  ever  verdant  and  lovely  in  thy  flowers  of 
grace.  We  that,  like  high  hills,  are  so  proud  and 
such  sinners,  what  shall  we  do  ?  We  must  look  on 
this  God  of  ours,  who  comes  to  us  in  infinite  humi- 
lity, and  then  humble  ourselves  out  of  love  and 
gratitude.  O  Blessed  Mother  !  obtain  this  grace  for 
us.  Pray  for  us,  that  henceforth  we  may  submit 
ourselves  to  the  will  of  our  Lord  as  thou  didst,  when 
thou  didst  speak  those  admirable  words :  Behold 
the  handmaid  of  the  Lord  :  may  it  be  done  to  me 
according  to  thy  word  ! 


PEOSE  IN  HONOUR  OF  THE  BLESSED  VIRGIN. 

(Taken  from  the  Cluny  Missal  of  1523.) 


Missus  Gabriel  de  coelis, 
Verbi  bajulus  fidelis, 
Sacris  disserit  loquelis 
Cum  beata  Virgine. 

Verbum  bonum  et  suave 
Pandit  intus  in  conclave, 
Et  ex  Eva  format  Ave, 
Evas  verso  nomine. 

Consequenter   juxta    pac- 
tum, 
Adest  Verbum  caro  factum  ; 
Semper  tamen  est  intactum 
Puellare  gremium. 

Patrem  pariens  ignorat, 
Et  quam  homo  non  deflorat, 
Non  torquetur,  nee  laborat, 
Quando  parit  fiHum. 

Signum  audis  novitatis  ; 
Crede  solum,  et  est  satis  ; 
Non  est  nostrse  facultatis 
Solvere  corrigiam. 

Grande  signum  et  insigne 
Est  in  rubo  et  in  igne  : 


Gabriel,  sent  from  heaven, 
faithful  bearer  of  the  word, 
holds  sacred  converse  with 
the  holy  Virgin. 

In  the  inner  chamber  he 
discloses  the  good  and  sweet 
word ;  and  inverting  the 
name  of  Eve,  Eva  becomes 
Ave, — his  salutation,  Hail  S 

The  covenant  made,  and 
instantly  there  was  present 
the  Word  made  flesh ;  and 
yet  the  pure  Maid  a  Virgin 
still  for  ever. 

Parent  like  no  other; 
Mother,  yet  not  losing  the 
treasure  ;  giving  birth  to  her 
child,  yet  not  a  pain  or  travail. 

Unheard-of  prodigy  !  'tis 
so  indeed,  and  all  thou,  my 
soul,  canst  do  is  to  believe  it : 
we  have  not  power  to  loose 
the  latchet. 

It  is  the  great,  the  wondrous 
portent  of  the  burning  bush ; 


SECOND   SATUEDAY   OF  ADVENT. 


£05 


let  him  that  would  approach, 
take  off  the  sandals  from  his 
feet. 

A  dry  branch,  with  not  one 
drop  of  dew,  once  yielded  a 
flower  and  fruit  ;  it  was  a 
new  law,  a  new  way  :  so  was 
it  when  the  Virgin  brought 
forth  her  Son. 

What  a  blessed  Fruit !  a 
Fruit  of  joy,  not  of  woe. 
There  will  be  no  Adam  de- 
ceived, if  men  but  eat  of  this. 

He  is  our  Jesus  !  the  good 
Jesus !  lovely  burden  of  a 
lovely  Mother  !  He  who  has 
a  throne  in  heaven,  has  a 
stable  for  his  birth-place  ! 

May  he,  that  for  our  sakes 
was  thus  born,  wipe  away  all 
our  gilt;  for  our  sojourn 
here  is  full  of  dangers. 

Amen. 


Ne  appropiet  indigne 
Calciatus  quisquam. 

Virga  sicca  sine  rore, 
Novo  ritu  novo  more, 
Fructum  protulit  cum  flore  ; 
Sicque  Virgo  peperit. 


Benedictus  talis  fructus, 
Fructus  gaudii,  non  luctus  ; 
Non  erit  Adam  seductus, 
Si  de  hoc  gustaverit. 

Jesus  noster,  Jesus  bonus, 
Piae  Matris  pium  onus, 
Cujus  est  in  ccelo  thronus 
Nascitur  in  stabulo. 

Qui  sic  est  pro  nobis  natus 
Nostros  deleat  reatus  ; 
Quia  noster  incolatus 
Hie  est  in  periculo. 

Amen. 


PRAYER  FROM  THE  MOZARABIC  BREVIARY. 
{For  the  Friday  of  the  third  Week  of  Advent) 


Who,  O  God  thou  Son  of 
God,  who  can  search  into  thy 
ways?  and  tell  how  thou  wast 
born  of  a  Virgin,  when  thou 
earnest  from  heaven,  or  by 
what  paths  thou  didst  return 
thither "?  And  therefore  since 
thou  alone  knowestall  things, 
thou  whose  name  is  beyond 
the  ends  of  the  earth  ;  grant 
us  so  to  think  and  speak  of 
thee,  as  to  be  guiltless  of  error : 
that  so  thou,  who,  high  in 
power,  dost  come  down  to 
lowly  things  and  love  them, 
mayest  make  us  worthy  of  thy 
gifts.    Amen. 


Quis  poterit,  Deus  Dei 
Filius,  scrutari  vias  tuas1? 
Vel  quibus  aditibus  nasci- 
turus  ad  Virginem  veneris? 
Vel  quibus  semitis  ad  su- 
perna  regressus  es  1  Et  ideo, 
quia  tu  solus  cuncta  consi- 
derans  es,  cujus  nomen  supra 
terrae  terminos  permanet ;  da 
nobis,  ilia  de  te  semper  con- 
siderare  et  dicere,  quae  culpaB 
careant  lege  :  ut,  qui  excel- 
sus  in  fortitudine  veniens  hu- 
milia  respicis,  dignos  facias 
nos  muneribus  tuis.    Amen. 


206  ADVENT. 


THE  THIRD  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


To-DAY,  again,  the  Church  is  full  of  joy,  and  the 
joy  is  greater  than  it  was.  It  is  true  that  her  Lord 
is  not  come;  but  she  feels  that  he  is  nearer  than 
before,  and  therefore  she  thinks  it  just  to  lessen 
somewhat  the  austerity  of  this  penitential  season  by 
the  innocent  cheerfulness  of  her  sacred  rites.  And 
first,  this  Sunday  has  had  the  name  of  Gaudete  given 
to  it,  from  the  first  word  of  the  Introit;  it  also  is 
honoured  with  those  impressive  exceptions  which 
belong  to  the  fourth  Sunday  of  Lent,  called  Lcetare. 
The  Organ  is  played  at  the  Mass ;  the  Vestments  are 
Rose-colour ;  the  Deacon  resumes  the  dalmatic,  and 
the  Sub-Deacon  the  tunic;  and  in  Cathedral  Churches, 
the  Bishop  assists  with  the  precious  mitre.  How 
touching  are  all  these  usages,  and  how  admirable  this 
condescension  of  the  Church,  wherewith  she  so  beau- 
tifully blends  together  the  unalterable  strictness  of 
the  dogmas  of  faith  and  the  graceful  poetry  of  the 
formulae  of  her  liturgy  !  Let  us  enter  into  her  spirit, 
and  be  glad  on  this  third  Sunday  of  her  Advent, 
because  our  Lord  is  now  so  near  unto  us.  To-morrow 
we  will  resume  our  attitude  of  servants  mourning 
for  the  absence  of  their  Lord  and  waiting  for  him ; 
for  every  delay,  however  short,  is  painful  and  makes 
love  sad. 

The  Station  is  kept  in  the  Basilica  of  St.  Peter,  at 
the  Vatican.  This  august  temple,  which  contains 
the  tomb  of  the  Prince  of  the  Apostles,  is  the  home 
and  refuge  of  all  the  faithful  of  the  world ;  it  is  but 
natural  that  it  should  be  chosen  to  be  witness  both 
of  the  joy  and  the  sadness  of  the  Church. 


THIRD  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


207 


The  Night  Office  commences  with  a  new  Invitatory. 
The  voice  of  the  Church  no  longer  invites  the  faith- 
ful to  come  and  adore  in  fear  and  trembling  the  King, 
our  Lord,  who  is  to  come.  Her  language  assumes 
another  character ;  her  tone  is  one  of  gladness  ;  and 
now,  every  day,  until  the  Vigil  of  Christmas,  she 
begins  her  Nocturns  with  these  grand  words  : 


The  Lord  is    now- 
come,  let  us  adore. 


nigh  ;        Prope  est  jam  Dominus  : 
venite,  adoremus. 


Now  let  us  take  the  book  of  the  Prophet,  and  read 
with  the  Church  : 


From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 

Ch.  XXVI. 

In  that  day  shall  this  can- 
ticle be  sung  in  the  land  of 
Juda.  Sion  the  City  of  our 
strength ;  a  Saviour,  a  wall, 
and  a  bulwark  shall  be  set 
therein.  Open  ye  the  gates 
and  let  the  just  nation,  that 
keepeth  the  truth,  enter  in. 
The  old  error  is  passed  away, 
thou  wilt  keep  peace  :  peace, 
because  we  have  hoped  in 
thee.  You  have  hoped  in  the 
Lord  for  evermore :  in  the 
Lord  God  mighty  for  ever. 
For  he  shall  bring  down  them 
that  dwell  on  high,  the  high 
city  he  shall  lay  low.  He 
shall  bring  it  down  even  to 
the  ground,  he  shall  pull  it 
down  even  to  the  dust.  The 
foot  shall  tread  it  down  ;  the 
feet  of  the  poor,  the  steps  of 
the  needy.  The  way  of  the 
just  is  right,  the  path  of  the 
just  is  right  to  walk  in.  And 
in  the  way  of  thy  judgments, 
O  Lord,  we  have   patiently 


De  Isaia  Propheta. 

Cap.  XXVI. 

In  die  ilia  cantabitur  can- 
ticum  istud  in  terra  Juda. 
Urbs  fortitudinis  nostras 
Sion ;  Salvator  ponetur  in 
ea  murus  et  antemurale, 
Aperite  portas,  et  ingredia- 
tur  gens  justa,  custodiens 
verita.tem.  Vetus  error  abiit, 
servabis  pacem  :  pacem,  quia 
in  te  speravimus.  Sperastis 
in  Domino  in  sasculis  aaternis : 
in  Domino  Deo  forti  in  per- 
petuum.  Quia  incurvabit 
habitautes  in  excelso,  civita- 
tem  sublimem  humiliabit. 
Humiliabit  earn  usque  ad 
terram,  detrahet  earn  usque 
ad  pulverem.  Conculcabit 
earn  pes ;  pedes  pauperis, 
gressus  egenorum.  Semita 
justi  recta  est,  rectus  callis 
justi  ad  ambulandum.  Et  in 
semita  judiciorum  tuorum, 
Domine,  sustinuimus  te : 
nomen  tuum,  et  memoriale 
tuum  in  desiderio  animae. 
Anima  mea  desideravit  te  in 


208  ADVENT. 

nocte  :  sed  et  spiritu  ineo  in  waited  for  thee  :  thy  name, 
prsecordiis  meis,  de  mane  and  thy  remembrance  are  the 
vigilabo  ad  te.  desire  of  the  soul.     My  soul 

hath  desired  thee  in  the  night : 
yea,  and  with  my  spirit  within 
me  in  the  morning  early  I  will 
watch  to  thee. 

O  Holy  Roman  Church,  City  of  our  Strength! 
behold  us  thy  children  assembled  within  thy  walls, 
around  the  tomb  of  the  Fisherman,  the  Prince  of  the 
Apostles,  whose  sacred  relics  protect  thee  from  their 
earthly  shrine,  and  whose  unchanging  teaching  en- 
lightens thee  from  heaven.  Yet,  0  City  of  strength  ! 
it  is  by  the  Saviour,  who  is  coming,  that  thou  art 
strong.  He  is  thy  wall,  for  it  is  he  that  encircles, 
with  his  tender  mercy,  all  thy  children;  he  is  thy 
bulwark,  for  it  is  by  him  that  thou  art  invincible,  and 
that  all  the  powers  of  hell  are  powerless  to  prevail 
against  thee.  Open  wide  thy  gates,  that  all  nations 
may  enter  thee ;  for  thou  art  mistress  of  holiness  and 
the  guardian  of  truth.  May  the  old  error,  which  sets 
itself  against  the  faith,  soon  disappear,  and  peace  reign 
over  the  whole  fold  !  O  Holy  Roman  Church  !  thou 
hast  for  ever  put  thy  trust  in  the  Lord ;  and  he, 
faithful  to  his  promise,  has  humbled  before  thee  the 
haughty  ones  that  defied  thee,  and  the  proud  cities 
that  were  against  thee.  Where  now  are  the  Caesars, 
who  boasted  that  they  had  drowned  thee  in  thine  own 
blood?  where  the  Emperors,  who  would  ravish  the  in- 
violate virginity  of  thy  faith  ?  where  the  Heretics,  who, 
during  the  past  centuries  of  thine  existence,  have 
assailed  every  article  of  thy  teaching,  and  denied  what 
they  listed  ?  where  the  ungrateful  Princes,  who  would 
fain  make  a  slave  of  thee,  who  had  made  them  what 
they  were  ?  where  that  Empire  of  Mahomet,  which 
has  so  many  times  raged  against  thee,  for  that  thou, 
the  defenceless  State,  didst  arrest  the  pride  of  its  con- 
quests? where  the  Reformers,  who  were  bent  on  giving 


THIRD  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT.        209 

the  world  a  Christianity,  in  which  thou  wast  to  have 
no  part  ?  where  the  more  modern  Sophists,  in  whose 
philosophy  thou  wast  set  down  as  a  system  that  had 
been  tried,  and  was  a  failure,  and  is  now  a  ruin  ?  and 
those  Kings  who  are  acting  the  tyrant  over  thee,  and 
those  people   that  will  have  liberty  independently 
and  at  the  risk  of  truth,  where  will   they  be   in 
another  hundred  years  ?     Gone  and  forgotten  as  the 
noisy  anger  of  a  torrent ;  whilst  thou,  0  holy  Church 
of  Rome,  built  on  the  immovable  rock,  wilt  be  as 
calm,  as  young,  as  unwrinkled  as  ever.     Thy  path 
through  all  the  ages  of  this  world's  duration,  will  be 
right  as  that  of  the  j  list  man ;  thou  wilt  ever  be  the 
self- same   unchanging   Church,   as   thou   hast  been 
during    the    eighteen    hundred   years    past,    whilst 
everything  else  under  the  sun  has  been  but  change. 
Whence  this  thy  stability,  but  from  Him  who  is  very 
Truth   and   Justice  ?     Glory   be   to    him   in    thee  ! 
Each  year,  he  visits  thee;  each  year,  he  brings  thee 
new  gifts,  wherewith  thou  mayest  go  happily  through 
thy  pilgrimage;   and  to   the  end  of  time,   he  will 
visit  thee,  and  renew  thee,  not  only  with  the  power 
of  that  look  wherewith  Peter  was  renewed,  but  by 
filling  thee  with  himse]f,  as  he  did  the  ever  glorious 
Virgin,  who  is  the  object  of  thy  most  tender  love, 
after  that  which  thou  bearest  to  Jesus  himself.     We 
pray  with  thee,  O  Church,  our  Mother  1  and  here  is 
our  prayer  :  Come,  Lord  Jesus  !  "  Thy  name  and  thy 
"remembrance  are  the  desire  of  our  souls:  they  have 
"  desired  thee  in  the  night,  yea,  and  early  in   the 
"  morning  have  they  watched  for  thee." 


MASS. 


The  assembly  of  the  faithful  is  attentive;  the 
chanters  intone  the  Gregorian  melody,  and  the 
church  echoes  with  these  sweet  words  : 

P 


210 


ADVENT. 


INTROIT. 


Gaudete  in  Domino  sem- 
per :  iterum  dico,  gaudete. 
Modestia  vestra  nota  sit  om- 
nibus hominibus  :  Dominus 
enim  prope  est.  Nihil  sol- 
liciti  sitis  :  sed  in  omni  ora- 
tione  petitiones  vestrae  inno- 
tescant  apud  Deum. 

Ps.  Benedixisti  Domine 
terram  tuam :  avertisti  cap- 
tivitatem  Jacob,  ff.  Gloria 
Patri. 


Rejoice  in  the  Lord 
always :  again  I  say,  re- 
joice. Let  your  modesty  be 
known  to  all  men :  for  the 
Lord  is  nigh.  Be  nothing 
solicitous :  but  in  every 
prayer  let  your  petitions  be 
made  known  to  God. 

Ps.  O  Lord,  thou  hast 
blessed  thy  land  :  thou  hast 
turned  away  the  captivity  of 
Jacob,    y.  Glory. 


In  the  Collect,  the  Church  asks  for  the  grace  of 
that  divine  visit,  which  dispels  darkness  and  brings 
light.  Darkness  produces  fear  in  the  soul ;  whereas, 
light  gives  courage  and  joy  to  the  heart. 


COLLECT. 


Aurem  tuam,  qnassumus, 
Domine,  precibus  nostris  ac- 
commoda  :  et  mentis  nostrae 
tenebras  gratia  tuas  _  visita- 
tionis  illustra.    Qui  vivis. 


Bend  thine  ear,  O  Lord, 
we  beseech  thee,  to  our 
prayers ;  and  enlighten  the 
darkness  of  our  minds  by 
the  grace  of  thy  visitation. 
Who  livest,  &c. 


The  other  Collects  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  against 
the  Persecutors  of  the  Church,  and  for  the  Pope, 
are  given  in  the  Mass  of  the  first  Sunday  of  Advent, 
page  132. 


EPISTLE. 

Lectio  Epistolae  beati  Pauli    Lesson    of   the    Epistle    of 
Apostoli  ad  Philippenses.  St.   Paul   the   Apostle    to 

the  Philippians. 

Cap.  IV.  Ch.IV. 

Fratres,    gaudete    in    Do-  Brethren,    rejoice    in    the 

mino  semper :   iterum   dico,  Lord  always  :   again  I  say, 

gaudete.      Modestia    vestra  rejoice.     Let  your  modesty 


THIRD  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT.        211 

be  known  to  all  men  :  the  nota  sit  omnibus  hominibus  : 
Lord  is  nigh.  Be  nothing  Dominus  prope  est.  Nihil 
solicitous  :  but  in  everything,  solliciti  sitis  :  sed  in  omni 
by  prayer  and  supplication  oratione,  et  obsecration e, 
with  thanksgiving,  let  your  cum  gratiarum  actione,  peti- 
petitions  be  made  known  to  tiones  vestrse  innotescant 
God.  And  the  peace  of  God,  apud  Deum.  Et  pax  Dei, 
which  surpasseth  all  under-  quae  exsuperat  omnem  sen- 
standing,  keep  your  hearts  sum,  custodiat  corda  vestra, 
and  minds  in  Christ  Jesus  et  intelligentias  vestras,  in 
our  Lord.  Christo  Jesu  Domino  nostro. 

Nothing  is  more  just  than  that  we  rejoice  in  the 
Lord.  Both  the  Prophet  and  the  Apostle  excite  us 
to  desire  the  Saviour:  both  of  them  promise  us 
Peace.  Therefore,  let  us  not  be  solicitous :  The 
Lord  is  nigh  ;  nigh  to  his  Church,  and  nigh  to  each 
of  our  souls.  Who  can  be  near  so  burning  a  fire, 
and  yet  be  cold  ?  Do  we  not  feel  that  he  is  coming 
to  us,  in  spite  of  all  obstacles  ?  He  will  let  nothing 
be  a  barrier  between  himself  and  us,  neither  his  own 
infinite  high  majesty,  nor  our  exceeding  lowliness, 
nor  our  many  sins.  Yet  a  little  while,  and  he  will 
be  with  us.  Let  us  go  out  to  meet  him  by  these 
prayers,  and  supplications,  and  thanksgiving  which 
the  Apostle  recommends  to  us.  Let  our  zeal  to 
unite  ourselves  with  our  holy  mother  the  Church 
become  more  than  ever  fervent :  now  every  day  her 
prayers  will  increase  in  intense  earnestness,  and  her 
longings  after  Him,  who  is  her  light  and  her  love, 
will  grow  more  ardent.  First  let  us  say  together 
with  her: 

GRADUAL. 

O  Lord,  who  sittest  on  the  Qui  sedes,  Domine,  super 

Cherubim,  exert  thy  power  Cherubim,  excita  potentiam 

and  come.  tuam  et  veni. 

$".  Thou  who  rulest  Israel,  $".    Qui    regis  Israel,  in- 

hearken.     Thou  who  leadest  tende  :     Qui   cleducis  velut 

Joseph  as  a  sheep.  ovem,  Joseph. 

Alleluia,  alleluia.  Alleluia,  alleluia. 


212 


ADVENT. 


J.  Excita  Domine  poten- 
tiam  tuam,  et  veni,  ut  salvos 
facias  nos.     Alleluia. 


f.  Exert,  O  Lord,  thy 
power,  and  come  to  save  us. 
Alleluia. 


GOSPEL. 


JSequentia    sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Joannem. 

Gap.  I. 

In  illo  tempore :  Miserunt 
Judsei  ab  Jerosolymis  sacer- 
dotes  et  levitas  ad  Joannem 
ut  interrogarent  eum  :  Tu 
quis  es  ?  Et  conf  essus  est,  et 
non  negavit,  et  confessus  est : 
Quia  non  sum  ego  Christus. 
Et  interrogaverunt  eum  : 
Quid  ergo  1  Elias  es  tu1?  Et 
dixit  :  Non  sum.  Propheta 
es  tu  1  Et  respondit :  Non. 
Dixerunt  ergo  ei  :  Quis  es, 
ut  responsum  demus  his  qui 
miserunt  nos  1  Quid  dicis 
de  teipso  1  Ait  :  Ego  vox 
elamantis  in  deserto  :  Diri- 
gite  viam  Domini,  sicut 
dixit  Isaias  propheta.  Et 
qui  missi  fuerant  erant  ex 
Pharisaeis.  Et  interrogave- 
runt eum,  et  dixerunt  ei  : 
Quid  ergo  baptizas,  si  tu 
nones  Christus,  neque Elias, 
i  j  eque  propheta  ?  Respondit 
eis  Joannes,  clicens  :  Ego 
baptizo  in  aqua :  medius 
autem  vestrum  stetit,  quern 
vos  nescitis.  Ipse  est,  qui 
post  me  venturus  est,  qui 
ante  me  f actus  est :  cujus  ego 
non  sum  dignus  ut  solvam 
ejus  corrigiam^  calceamenti. 
lisec  in  Bethania  facta  sunt 
trans  Jordanem,  ubi  erat 
Joannes  baptizans. 


Sequel  of  the  holy  Gospel 
according  to  John. 

Ck  I. 

At  that  time  :  the  Jews 
sent  from  Jerusalem  priests 
and  levites  to  John,  to  ask 
him  :  Who  art  thou  1  And 
he  confessed,  and  did  not 
deny,  and  he  confessed  :  I  am 
not  the  Christ.  And  they 
asked  him  :  What  then  1  Art 
thou  Elias  ]  And  he  said  :  I 
am  not.  Art  thou  a  prophet] 
And  he  answered  :  No.  They 
said  therefore  unto  him  : 
Who  art  thou,  that  we  may 
give  an  answer  to  them  that 
sent  us  1  What  sayest  thou 
of  thyself  1  He  said  :  I  am 
the  voice  of  one  crying  in  the 
wilderness  :  Make  straight 
the  way  of  the  Lord,  as  said 
the  Prophet  Isaias.  And  they 
that  were  sent  were  of  the 
Pharisees.  And  they  asked 
him,  and  said  to  him  :  Why 
then  dost  thou  baptise,  if 
thou  be  not  Christ,  nor  Elias, 
nor  a  prophet]  John  an- 
swered them  saying  :  I  bap- 
tise with  water ;  but  there 
hath  stood  one  in  the  midst 
of  you,  whom  you  know  not. 
The  same  is  he  that  shall 
come  after  me,  who  is  pre- 
ferred before  me  :  the  latchet 
of  whose  shoe  I  am  not 
worthy  to  loose.  These  things 
were  done  in  Bethania,  be- 
yond the  Jordan,  where  John 
was  baptising. 


THIRD  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT.        213 

There  hath  stood  One  in  the  midst  of  you,  whom 
you  know  not,  says  St.  John  the  Baptist  to  them 
that  were  sent  by  the  Jews.  So  that,  our  Lord  may 
be  near,  he  may  even  have  come,  and  yet  by  some  be 
not  known  !  This  Lamb  of  God  is  the  holy  Precur- 
sor's consolation  :  he  considers  it  a  singular  privilege 
to  be  but  the  Voice,  which  cries  out  to  men  to  pre- 
pare the  way  of  the  Redeemer.  Id  this,  St.  John  is 
the  type  of  the  Church,  and  of  all  such  as  seek  Jesus. 
St.  John  is  full  of  joy  because  the  Saviour  is  come : 
but  the  men  around  him  are  as  indifferent  as  though 
they  neither  expected  nor  wanted  a  Saviour.  This 
is  the  third  week  of  Advent ;  and  are  all  hearts 
excited  by  the  great  tidings  told  them  by  the  Church, 
that  the  Messias  is  near  at  hand  ?  They  who  love 
him  not  as  their  Saviour,  do  they  fear  him  as  their 
Judge  ?  Are  the  crooked  ways  being  made  straight? 
are  the  hills  being  brought  low  ?  are  Christians 
seriously  engaged  in  removing  from  their  hearts  the 
love  of  riches  and  the  love  of  sensual  pleasures  ? 
There  is  no  time  to  lose :  the  Lord  is  nigh  !  If 
these  lines  should  come  under  the  eye  of  any  of 
those  Christians,  who  are  in  this  state  of  sinful  indif- 
ference, we  would  conjure  them  to  shake  off  their 
lethargy,  and  render  themselves  worthy  of  the  visit 
of  the  divine  Infant :  such  a  visit  will  bring  them 
the  greatest  consolation  here,  and  give  them  confi- 
dence hereafter,  when  our  Lord  will  come  to  judge 
all  mankind.  Send  thy  grace,  O  Jesus,  still  more 
plentifully  into  their  hearts  ;  compel  them  to  go  in, 
and  permit  not  that  it  be  said  of  the  children  of  the 
Church,  as  St.  John  said  of  the  Synagogue :  There 
standeth  in  the  midst  of  you  One,  whom  ye  know 
not 

During  the  Offertory,  the  faithful  should  unite  in 
the  prayer  of  the  Church,  and  beg  that  the  captivity, 
in  which  our  sins  hold  us,  may  be  brought  to  an  end, 
and  that  the  divine  Deliverer  may  come. 


214  ADVENT. 


OFFERTORY. 

Benedixisti,  Domine,  ter-  Lord,  thou  hast  blessed  thy 
ram  tuam  ;  avertisti  capti-  land  ;  thou  hast  turned  away 
vitatem  Jacob,  remisisti  ini-  the  captivity  of  Jacob,  thou 
quitatem  plebis  tuae.  hast  forgiven  the  iniquity  of 

thy  people. 

SECRET. 

Devotionis     nostra?    tibi,  May  we   always,  O  Lord, 

quaesumus,    Domine,  hostia  offer  thee  this  sacrifice  of  our 

jugiter  immoletur  :   quae   et  devotion  ;  both  to  effect  that 

sacri  peragat  instituta  mys-  for  which  thou  didst  institute 

terii,  et   Salutare    tuum    in  this  mystery,  and  wonderfully 

nobis    mirabiliter    operetur.  to  procure  ourselves  that  Sal- 

Per  Dominum.  vation  which  thou  designest 

us.     Through,  &c. 

The  other  Secrets  are  given  in  page  136. 

During  the  Communion,  the  Church  chants  the 
words  of  the  Prophet  Isaias,  which  bid  the  heart  of 
the  sinner  take  courage.  Fear  not,  Christian  people  ! 
He  that  is  coming  is  God ;  but  he  comes  to  save  his 
creatures,  and  give  himself  to  them. 

COMMUNION. 

Dicite  :  Pusillanimes,  con-  Say  :  Be  comforted,  O  ye 

fortamini  et   nolite  timere  :  timid  of  heart,  and  fear  not ; 

ecce  Deus  noster  veniet,  et  behold  our  God  will  come, 

salvabit  nos.  and  save  us. 

The  Church  asks  of  God,  in  the  following  prayer, 
that  the  secret  visit  which  she  has  just  been  re- 
ceiving from  her  divine  Spouse,  may  fit  her  for  that 
solemn  one  which  she  is  preparing  to  receive  at  the 
feast  of  Christmas. 


POSTCOMMTJNION. 

Imploramus,  Domine,  cle-        We  implore,  0  Lord,  thy 
mentiam  tuam :  ut  haec  divina    mercy  :    that    these    divine 


THIRD  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


215 


helps,  having  cleansed  us  from 
sin,  may  prepare  us  for  the 
ensuing  solemnity.  Through, 


subsidia,  a  vitiis  expiatos,  ad 
festa  ventura  nos  praeparent. 
Per  Dominum. 


The  other  Postcommunions  as  on  the  first  Sunday, 
page  137. 


VESPERS. 


1.  Ant.  The  Lord  will 
come,  and  will  not  delay,  and 
he  will  reveal  things  hidden 
in  darkness,  and  will  manifest 
himself  to  all  nations.  Al- 
leluia. 

2.  Ant.  Rejoice,  O  Jeru- 
salem, with  great  joy,  for  thy 
Saviour  will  come  to  thee. 
Alleluia. 

3.  Ant.  I  will  settle  salva- 
tion in  Sion,  and  my  glory  in 
Jerusalem.    Alleluia. 

4.  Ant.  Mountains  and 
hills  shall  be  brought  low  : 
the  crooked  path  shall  be 
made  straight,  and  the  rough 
ways  smooth  :  come,  0  Lord, 
and  delay  not.     Alleluia. 

5.  Ant.  Let  us  live  justly 
and  piously,  expecting  the 
blessed  hope,  and  Coming  of 
the  Lord.    Alleluia. 


1.  Ant.  Veniet  Dominus, 
et  non  tardabit,  et  illuminabit 
abscondita  tenebrarum,  et 
manifestabit  se  ad  omnes 
gentes.     Alleluia. 

2.  Ant.  Jerusalem,  gaude 
gaudio  magno,  quia  veniet 
tibi  Salvator.    Alleluia. 

3.  Ant.  Dabo  in  Sion  sa- 
lutem,  et  in  Jerusalem  glo- 
riam  meam.     Alleluia. 

4.  Ant.  Montes  et  omnes 
colles  humiliabuntur  :  et 
erunt  prava  in  directa,  et  as- 
pera  in  vias  planas  :  veni, 
Domine,  et  noil  tardare.  Al- 
leluia. 

5.  Ant.  Juste  et  pie  viva- 
mus,  exspectantes  beatam 
spem,  et  Adventum  Domini. 
Alleluia. 


CAPITULUM. 


Brethren,  rejoice  always  in 
the  Lord :  I  say  again,  rejoice. 
Let  your  modesty  be  known 
to  all  men  :  the  Lord  is  nigh 
at  hand. 


Fratres,  gaudete  in  Domino 
semper:  iterum  dico,  gaudete. 
Modestia  vestra  nota  sit  om- 
nibus hominibus  :  Dominus 
enim  prope  est. 


The  Hymn  Creator  alme  siderum,  and  the  Can- 
ticle Magnificat,  are  given  in  pages  110  and  112. 


216  ADVENT. 


antiphon  OF  the  Magnificat 

Beata  es,  Maria,  quss  ere-  Blessed  art  tliou,  0  Mary, 
didisti  Domino  ;  perficientur  who  didst  believe  the  Lord  : 
in  te,  quae  dicta  sunt  tibi  a  what  the  Lord  said  to  thee 
Domino.    Alleluia.  shall    be    fulfilled    in   thee. 

Alleluia. 

But  if  the  third  Sunday  of  Advent  fall  on  the 
17th  December,  then,  instead  of  the  above,  is  said 
the  first  of  the  Great  Antiphons  (0  Sapientia),  which 
will  be  found,  with  the  other  six.  in  the  Proper  of 
Saints,  from  the  17th  to  the  23rd  December  (page, 
508). 

OREMUS.  LET  US  PRAY. 

Aurem  tuam,  quaesumus,  Bend  thine  ear,  O  Lord, 
Domine,  precibus  nostris  we  beseech  thee,  to  our 
accommoda,  et  mentis  nostras  prayers,  and  enlighten  the 
tenebras  gratia  tuae  visita-  darkness  of  our  minds  by 
tionis  illustra.     Qui  vivis.         the  grace  of  thy  visitation. 

Who  livest,  &c. 


THIKD   MONDAY   OF  ADVENT. 


217 


MONDAY 

OF  THE  THIRD   WEEK   OF  ADVENT. 


The  Lord  is   now  nigh  ;        Prope   est  jam  Dominus  : 
come,  let  us  adore.  venite,  adoremus. 


From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 

Ch.  XXVIII. 

/■*  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  : 
Behold,  I  will  lay  a  stone  in 
the  foundations  ©f  Sion,  a 
tried  stone,  a  corner  stone,  a 
precious  stone,  founded  in 
the  foundation.  He  that  be- 
lieveth,  let  him  not  hasten. 
And  I  will  set  judgment  in 
weight,  and  justice  in  mea- 
sure :  and  hail  shall  overturn 
the  hope  of  falsehood,  and 
waters  shall  overflow  its  pro- 
tection. And  your  league 
with  death  shall  be  abolished, 
and  your  covenant  with  hell 
shall  not  stand. 

Heavenly  Father!  thou  art  preparing  to  set  in 
the  foundations  of  Sion  a  corner  Stone,  that  is  tried 
and  solid  ;  and  this  Stone,  which  is  to  give  firmness 
to  Sion,  which  is  thy  Church,  this  Stone  is  thy  In- 
carnate Son.  It  was  prefigured,  as  thy  Apostle 
assures  us,1  by  that  Rock  of  the  desert,  which  yielded 
the  abundant  and  saving  stream,  that  quenched  the 
thirst  of  thy  people.  But  now  thou  art  about  to 
give  us  the  reality;  it  has  already  come  down  from 
heaven,  and  the  hour  is  fast  approaching  when  thou 
wilt  lay  it  in  the  foundations.  O  sacred  Stone, 
1 1.  Cor.  x.  4. 


De  Isaia  Propheta. 

Cap.  XXVIII. 

Haec  dicit  Dominus  Deus  : 
Ecce  ego  mittam  in  funda- 
mentis  Sion  lapidem,  lapi- 
dem  probatum,  angularem, 
pretiosum,  in  fundamento 
funclatum.  Qui  crediderit, 
non  festinet.  Et  ponam  in 
pondere  judicium,  et  justi- 
tiam  in  mensura,  et  subver- 
tet  grando  spem  mendacii,  et 
protectionem  aquae  inunda- 
bunt.  Et  delebitur  foedus 
vestrum  cum  morte,  et  pac- 
tum vestrum  cum  inferno 
non  stabit. 


218  ADVENT. 

which  makest  all  one,  and  givest  solidity  to  the 
whole  structure !  By  thee  it  will  come  to  pass,  that 
there  shall  be  no  longer  Jew  nor  Gentile,  but  all 
nations  shall  become  one  family.  Men  shall  no  more 
build  on  sand,  nor  set  up  houses  which  floods  and 
storms  may  overturn.  The  Church  shall  rise  up 
from  the  Stone  which  God  now  sets,  and,  secure  on 
the  great  foundation,  her  summit  shall  touch  the 
clouds.  With  all  his  weakness,  and  all  his  fickleness, 
man  will  partake  of  thy  immutability,  O  divine  Stone, 
if  he  will  but  lean  on  thee.  Wo  to  him  that  rejects 
thee,  for  thou  hast  said,  and  thou  art  the  eternal 
Truth  :  Whosoever  shall  fall  upon  that  Stone,  shall 
be  bruised ;  and  upon  whomsoever  it  shall  fall,  it 
will  grind  him  to  powder}  From  this  twofold  evil, 
0  thou  that  art  chief  Corner-stone,  deliver  us,  and 
never  permit  us  to  be  of  the  number  of  those  blind 
men  who  rejected  thee.  Give  us  grace  ever  to 
honour  and  love  thee  as  the  cause  of  our  strength, 
and  the  one  sole  origin  of  our  solidity :  and  since 
thou  hast  communicated  this  thy  quality  of  the 
Rock  to  one  of  thine  Apostles,  and  by  him  to  his 
successors  unto  the  end  of  the  world,  grant  us  ever 
to  cling  to  this  Rock,  the  Holy  Roman  Church,  in 
union  with  which  all  the  faithful  on  the  face  of  the 
earth  are  preparing  to  celebrate  the  glorious  solem- 
nity of  thy  Coming,  0  precious  and  tried  Stone  ! 
Thou  art  coming  that  thou  mayest  destroy  the  king- 
dom of  falsehood,  and  break  the  league  which  man- 
kind had  made  with  death  and  hell. 

HYMN  FOR  ADVENT. 

(In  the  Mozarabic  Breviary,  First  Sunday  of  Advent.) 

Christi  caterva  clamitet,  Let  all    the   assembly   of 

Rerum  parenti  proximas  Christ's   faithful   ones  laud 

Quas  esse  sentit  gratias,  the  graces  that  are  nigh,  and 

Laudesque  promat  maximas.    sing  their  highest  praises  to 

their  Creator. 

1  St.  Matth.  xxi.  44. 


THIRD   MONDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


219 


When  his  only  begotten 
Son,  who  created  this  world, 
redeemed  ns,  he  fulfilled  the 
promises  which  the  divine 
Prophets  spoke  in  the  ages 
past. 

The  Word  having  come 
down  from  heaven,  and  shown 
himself  to  men,  he  took  away 
the  punishment  due  to  their 
sins;  and  assuming  our  na- 
ture, though  but  dust,  he 
vanquished  the  prince  of 
death. 

Born  of  a  Mother  in  time, 
but  begotten  eternally  from 
the  Father,  in  the  two  sub- 
stances there  is  but  one  Per- 
son, that  is  the  Person  of 
the  Word. 

God  has  come  into  this 
world  made  Man,  that  our  old 
man  being  changed  into  the 
new,  we  may  put  on  new 
beauty  by  being  regenerated 
in  the  new-born  God. 

Let  the  Gentiles,  who  have 
received  this  new  birth  of 
grace,  in  gladness  and  exul- 
tation at  the  trophy,  won  by 
the  divine  Nativity,  keep 
every  year  its  feast. 

Let  this  Coming  of  Jesus 
be  celebrated  with  devout 
solemnity  by  all,  who  have  so 
just  a  share  in  the  glory  of 
this  great  day. 

That  so,  when  the  second 
Coming  shall  burst  upon  the 
world  and  fill  it  with  fear, 
this  most  humble  expression 
of  our  devout  celebration  of 
the  first  may  give  us  confi- 
dence. 

To  God  the  Father,  and  to 
his  only  Son,  and  to  the  Holy 
Spirit,  be  glory  for  ever  and 
ever.    Amen. 


Vatum  poli  oracula 
Perfecit  olim  tradita, 
Cum  nos  redemit  unicus 
Factoris  orbis  Filius. 


Verbum    profectum,    pro- 

ditum, 
Tulit  reatum  criminum, 
Sumensque  nostrum  pulve- 

rem, 
Mortis  peremit  principem. 


A  matre  natus  tempore, 
Sed  sempiternus  a  Patre, 
Duabus  in  substantiis, 
Persona  sola  est  Numinis. 


Venit  Deus  factus  homo, 
Nitescat  ut  cultu  novo 
Renatus  in  nato  Deo, 
Factus  novus  vetus  homo. 


Natalis  hinc  ob  gaudium, 
Ovans  trophseo,  gentium 
Renata  plebs  per  gratiam 
Haec  festa  prsebet  annua. 


Adventus  hie  solemnibus 
Votis  feratur  onmibus, 
Quos  sustinere  convenit, 
Tanti  diei  gloriam. 

Secundus  ut  cum  cceperit, 
Orbemque  terror  presserit ; 
Succurrat  hsec  humillima 
Susceptionis  dignitas. 


Deo  Patri  sit  gloria, 
Ejusque  soli  Filio, 
Cum  Spiritu  Paraclito, 
Insempiternasascula.  Amen. 


220 


ADVENT. 


PRAYER  FROM  THE  AMBROSIAN  MISSAL. 


(In  the  Mass  of  the  Sixth  Sunday  of  Advent,  Preface.) 


Vere  dignum  et  justum  est, 
aequum  et  salutare,  nos  beatss 
semper Virginis  Marise  solem- 
nia  celebrare,  quae  parvo  utero 
Dominum  cceli  portavit;  et, 
Angelo  praenuntiante,  Ver- 
bum  carne  mortali  edidit 
salvatorem.  Hie  est  mundi 
Redemptor,  castis  conceptus 
visceribus;  clausa  ingrediens, 
et  clausa  relinquens. 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 
right  and  available  to  salva- 
tion, that  in  this  holy  time  we 
should  celebrate  the  memory 
of  the  ever  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary,  who  carried  in  the  nar- 
row inclosure  of  her  womb  the 
Lord  of  heaven,  and  who, 
according  as  the  Angel  had 
foretold  to  her,  brought  forth 
the  Word  become  our  Saviour 
in  our  mortal  flesh.  This  is 
he  who  is  the  Redeemer  of 
the  world,  conceived  in  a 
chaste  womb,  his  Mother  both 
then  and  at  his  birth  remain- 
ing ineffably  the  Virgin. 


THIKD  TUESDAY  OF  ADVENT, 


221 


TUESDAY 

OF   THE   THIRD   WEEK   OF   ADVENT. 


The  Lord   is  now   nigh;        Prope  est  jam  Dominus 
come,  let  us  adore.  venite,  adoremus. 


From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 

Ch.  XXX. 

The  Lord  waiteth  that  he 
may  have  mercy  on  you,  and 
therefore  shall  he  be  exalted 
sparing  you  :  because  the 
Lord  is  the  God  of  judgment, 
blessed  are  all  they  that  wait 
for  him.  For  the  people  of 
Sion  shall  dwell  in  Jerusalem: 
weeping  thou  shalt  not  weep  : 
he  will  surely  have  pity  on 
thee  :  at  the  voice  of  thy  cry, 
as  soon  as  he  shall  hear,  he 
will  answer  thee.  And  the 
Lord  will  give  you  spare  bread 
and  short  water :  and  will  not 
cause  thy  teacher  to  flee  away 
from  thee  any  more,  and  thy 
eyes  shall  see  thy  teacher. 
And  rain  shall  be  given  to  thy 
seed,  wheresoever  thou  shalt 
sow  in  the  land  :  and  the 
bread  of  the  corn  of  the  land 
shall  be  most  plentiful  and 
fat.  The  lamb  in  that  day 
shall  feed  at  large  in  thy  pos- 
session, and  thy  oxen,  and  the 
ass-colts,  that  till  the  ground, 
shall  eat  mingled  provender 
as  it  was  winnowed  in  the 


De  Isaia  Propheta. 

Gap.  XXX. 

Exspectat  Dominus  ut  mi- 
sereatur  vestri,  et  ideo  exal- 
tabitur  parcens  vobis  :  quia 
Deus  judicii  Dominus,  beati 
omnes  qui  exspectant  eum. 
Populus  enim  Sion  habitabit 
in  Jerusalem :  plorans  nequa- 
quam  plorabis  :  miserans  mi- 
serebitur  tui  :  ad  vocem  cla- 
moris  tui  statim  ut  audierit, 
respondebit  tibi.  Et  dabit  vo- 
bis Dominus  panem  arctum, 
et  aquam  brevem  :  et  non 
faciet  avolare  a  te  ultra  cloc- 
torem  tuum,  et  erunt  oculi  tui 
videntes  prseceptorem  tuum. 
Et  dabitur  pluvia  semini  tuo, 
ubicumque  seminaveris  in 
terra  :  et  panis  frugum  terras 
erit  uberrimus  et  pinguis. 
Pascetur  in  possessione  tua 
in  die  illo  agnus  spatiose,  et 
tauri  tui,  et  pulli  asinorum, 
qui  operantur  terram,  com- 
mixtum  migma  comedent 
sicut  in  area  ventilatum  est. 
Et  erunt  super  omnem  mon- 
tem  excelsum,  et  super  omnem 
collem    elevatum    rivi    cur- 


222 


ADVENT. 


rentium  aquarum  in  die  in- 
terfectionis  multorum,  cum 
^eciderint  turres.  Et  erit  lux 
lunae  sicut  lux  solis,  et  lux 
solis  erit  septempliciter  sicut 
lux  septem  dierum,  in  die  qua 
alligaverit  Dominus  vulnus 
populi  sui,  et  percussuram 
plagse  ejus  sanaverit.  Ecce 
nomen  Domini  venit  de  lon- 
ginquo,  ardens  furor  ejus,  et 
gravis  ad  portandum :  labia 
ejus  repleta  sunt  _  indigna- 
tione,  et  lingua  ejus  quasi 
ignis  devorans.  Spiritus  ejus 
velut  torrens  inundans  usque 
ad  medium  colli,  ad  perden- 
das  Gentes  in  nihilum,  et 
frsenum  erroris  quod  erat  in 
maxillis  populorum. 


floor.  And  there  shall  be 
upon  every  high  mountain, 
and  upon  every  elevated  hill, 
rivers  of  running  waters  in 
the  day  of  the  slaughter  of 
many,  when  the  towers  shall 
fall.  And  the  light  of  the 
moon  shall  be  as  the  light  of 
the  sun,  and  the  light  of  the 
sun  shall  be  sevenfold  as  the 
light  of  seven  days,  in  the 
day  when  the  Lord  shall  bind 
up  the  wound  of  his  people, 
and  shall  heal  the  stroke  of 
their  wound.  Behold  the 
name  of  the  Lord  cometh 
from  afar,  his  wrath  burnetii, 
and  is  heavy  to  bear  :  his  lips 
are  filled  with  indignation, 
and  his  tongue  as  a  devour- 
ing fire.  His  breath  as  a 
torrent  overflowing  even  to 
the  midst  of  the  neck,  to 
destroy  the  nations  unto  no- 
thing, and  the  bridle  of  error 
that  was  in  the  jaws  of  the 
people. 


And  are  we  then  to  weep  no  more,  O  Jesus  ?  Happy 
we  !  How  could  we  be  sad  now  that  thou  hast  heard 
our  prayers,  and  our  eyes  shall  behold  thee,  our  Master, 
and  our  Teacher  ?  If  thou  yet  delayest  some  days 
longer,  it  is  only  that  we  may  have  more  time  to  re- 
ceive what  thou  hast  made  it  thy  glory  to  give, — the 
mercy  and  the  pardon  of  our  sins.  O  the  happiness  of 
thy  kingdom !  O  the  richness  of  our  lands,  that  is,  of  our 
souls,  when  thy  dew  shall  have  fallen  upon  them  !  O 
the  sweetness  of  our  Bread,  which  is  to  be  thyself,  O 
Living  Bread  come  down  from  heaven  !  0  the  bright- 
ness of  the  light  which  thou  wilt  give  us,  even  on  the 
very  day  when  thou  wilt  have  bound  up  our  wounds  ! 
Blessed  day,  come  quickly  !  And  thou,  dear  night, 
when  Mary  is  to  give  her  divine  Babe  to  us,  when 


THIRD  TUESDAY  OF  ADVENT.        223 

wilt  thou  come  ?  So  great  is  our  hope  in  this  thy 
merciful  Coming,  that  we  listen  with  less  dread  to 
the  awful  words  of  thy  Prophet,  who,  with  a  rapidity 
swift  as  thine  own  word,  passes  over  the  loDg  ages 
between  the  two  events,  and  speaks  to  us  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  terrible  day,  when  thou  wilt  come  sud- 
denly, in  thy  burning  wrath,  with  thy  lips  filled  with 
indignation,  and  thy  tongue  as  a  devouring  fire.  Our 
present  feeling  is  hope,  for  we  are  looking  forward  to 
that  Coming,  in  which  thou  art  the  beautiful  Prince  of 
peace  and  love,  and  we  cannot  but  hope.  When  that 
last  day  comes,  have  mercy  on  us  !  but  on  this  day  of 
thine  amiable  visit,  permit  us  to  say  to  thee  the 
words  of  one  of  thy  servants:  "Yes,  dear  Jesus,  come, 
"  come  to  us !  but  in  swathing-bands,  not  with  thy 
"  hand  raised  to  punish  us :  in  humility,  not  in  thy 
"  greatness  :  in  the  crib,  not  in  the  clouds  of  heaven  : 
"  in  the  arms  of  thy  Mother,  not  on  the  Throne  of  thy 
"  Majesty:  on  the  colt  of  the  ass,  not  on  the  Cherubim : 
"  to  us,  and  not  against  us  :  to  save,  and  not  to  judge : 
"  to  visit  us  in  thy  peace,  not  to  condemn  us  in  thy 
"  anger.  If  thou  comest  unto  us  thus,  O  Jesus  !  it  is 
"  not  from  thee,  but  to  thee,  that  we  will  flee."  (The 
Venerable  Peter  of  Celles,  1st  Sermon  of  Advent) 

HYMN  TAKEN  FROM  THE  ANTHOLOGY  OF  THE  GREEKS. 

(December  20.) 

Be  thou  ready,  O  Bethle-  Bethlehem,  prseparare,  om- 

hem,  for  now  Eden  is  open  nibus  aperitur  Eden  ;  laetare, 

unto  all ;  rejoice,  0  Ephrata,  Ephrata,  quia  arbor  vitas  in 

for  the  tree  of  life  has  bios-  spelunca  effloruit  ex  Virgine ; 

somed  in  the  cave  from  the  ejus  enim  venter  paradisus 

Virgin  ;   for    her    womb    is  demonstratus  est  spiritualis, 

become  a    mystic   paradise,  in  quo  est  divina  planta,  de 

wherein  is  the  divine  plant,  qua  manducantes   yivimus  ; 

of  which  we  shall  live  if  we  neque    enim    amplius   sicut 

eat,  and  not,  like  Adam,  die  ;  Adam  moriemur:  nam  Chris- 

for  Christ  is  born,  that  he  tus  nascitur,  lapsam  princi- 

may  raise  up  his  image  which  pio  relevans  imaginem. 
had  fallen  in  the  beginning. 


224 


ADVENT. 


Ministraturus  Christus  li- 
benter  progreditur,  plasmatis 
formam  plastes  accipit ;  qui 
locuples  est  divinitate,  Adam 
indigenti  novam  reform  atio- 
nem  atque  nativitatem  ut 
commiserans  elargitur. 

Inclinans  coelos  et  in  Vir- 
gine  habitans  progreditur 
carnaliter,  Bethlehem  in  spe- 
iunea  pariendus,  ut  scriptum 
est,  videndusque  infantulus 
qui  infantes  in  vulva  vivifi- 
cat  ;  ipsi  gaudentes  nunc 
obviemus  omnes  corde  veloci. 


Dominus  nascens  ut  hos- 
pes,  sapienter  in  propria  ve- 
nit :  recipiamus  eum,  ut  hos- 
pites  factos  paradisi  delicia- 
rum  iterum  habitare  faciat 
natus  in  spelunca. 


Jam  divinse  Yerbi  Incar- 
nationis  omnibus  aperitur 
propylaeum  ;  cceli,  gaudete  ; 
Angeli,  exsultate ;  lsetetur 
terra  cum  hominibus,  una 
cum  Pastoribus  et  Magis  in 
spiritu. 

Fer  sicut  unguentum  spi- 
rituale  non  vacuum  Virgo 
alabastrum,  et  illud  gestat 
in  spelunca  in  spiritu  ad 
evacuandum  sapienter  illud, 
ut  bono  odore  repleat  animas 
nostras. 

Angelica?  accurrite  Virtu- 
tes  ;  qui  in  Bethlehem  es- 
tis,  prasparate  prsesepium, 
Christus  enim  nascitur  ;  Sa- 


Christ  comes  willingly  to 
minister  to  us  ;  the  Creator 
puts  on  the  creature's  form  ; 
he  that  is  rich  in  the  God- 
head, mercifully  bestows  on 
the  needy  Adam  a  new  crea- 
tion and  birth. 

He  has  bowed  down  the 
heavens,  and,  taking  up  his 
abode  in  the  Virgin,  he 
comes  in  our  flesh  to  be  born 
in  Bethlehem's  cave,  as  it  is 
written  ;  and  he  that  gives 
life  to  children  in  the  womb, 
is  himself  become  a  child : 
let  us  all  go  forth  to  meet 
him  with  our  hearts  full  of 
ardour  andjoy. 

The  all-wise  Lord  thus 
born,  comes  among  his  own 
to  receive  hospitality  from 
his  own  creatures  ;  let  us  re- 
ceive him,  that  this  divine 
Babe  of  the  cave  may  make 
us  the  guests  of  the  paradise 
of  delights. 

Now  is  the  portal  of  the 
Divine  Incarnation  opened 
to  all  :  be  glad,  ye  heavens  ; 
exult  with  joy,  all  ye  An- 
gels !  let  the  earth  and  its 
inhabitants  rejoice  in  spirit 
with  the  Shepherds  and  the 
Magi. 

The  Virgin,  as  a  precious 
vase  of  alabaster,  bears  the 
divine  perfume  into  the 
cave,  there  wisely  and  inef- 
fably to  yield  what  she  con- 
tains, that  she  may  fill  our 
souls  with  the  delicious  fra- 
grance. 

Ye  Angelic  Powers  !  hasten 
thither.  Ye  who  dwell  in 
Bethlehem,  prepare  the  Crib, 
for  Christ  is  coming  to  be 


THIKD  TUESDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


225 


born  ;  Wisdom  advances 
towards  you.  Receive  our 
greetings,  O  thou  Church,  of 
God !  and  let  us,  O  ye 
people,  thus  sing  in  honour 
of  the  Divine  Mother's  joy  : 
Blessed  be  our  God,  that 
cometh  ! 

Christ  our  God  shall  come 
manifestly,  and  shall  not 
delay ;  he  shall  appear  born 
of  a  spotless  Virgin ;  he 
shall  be  laid  in  a  cave  ;  and 
thou,  the  crib  of  senseless 
beasts,  receive  into  thyself, 
wrapt  in  swathing-bands, 
Him,  whom  the  heavens  can- 
not contain,  and  whose  single 
word  absolves  our  senseless 
sins. 

Sing,  O  Tsaias  !  show  us 
the  Word  of  God,  predict 
the  bush  that  is  to  be  on 
fire,  yet  not  consumed ;  the 
Virgin  Mary.  Put  on  thy 
splendour,  the  rays  reflected 
from  the  Deity,  O  Bethle- 
hem !  open  thy  gates,  O 
Eden  !  Set  out  on  your 
journey,  ye  Magi,  to  see  the 
Saviour  laid  in  swaddling- 
clothes  in  a  manger,  Him 
whom  your  star,  standing 
over  the  cave,  pointed  out  to 
you  the  Lord  and  giver  of 
life,  the  Saviour  of  our  race. 


pientia  progreditur.  Accipe 
salutationem,  Ecclesia ;  in 
gaudium  Dei  Matris  dicamus, 
populi :  Benedictus  qui  venit, 
Deus  noster. 


Christus  Deus  noster  ma- 
nifeste  gradiens  veniet,  et 
non  tardabit ;  ex  nuptine- 
scia  nympha  videbitur ;  in 
spelunca  autem  requiescet  ; 
et  tu,  prsesepe  alogorum, 
quern  coelum  non  continet, 
accipe  fasciis  in  te;;  involven- 
dum,  qui  uno  verbo  nostras 
alogias  solvit. 


Chorum  age,  Isaia,  Ver- 
bum  Dei  demonstra,  prophe- 
tiza  puellse  Marise  rubum 
incendiari,  et  igne  non  con- 
sumi.  Splendore  Deitatis, 
Bethlehem,  adornare  :  aperi 
januam,  O  Eden  ;  atque  iter 
capite  Magi,  Salutem  visuri 
in  praesepio  fasciatum ;  quern 
sidus  designavit  desuperspe- 
luncam,  vitae  datorem  Domi- 
num  salvantem  genus  nos- 
trum. 


PRAYER    FROM   THE   GALLIC  AN   MISSAL. 

{In  Adventu  Domini,  Immolatio.) 

Truly  is  it  meet  and  just  Vere  dignum    et    justum 

that  here  and  in  all  places  est,  nos  tibi    hie   et  ubique 

we  should  give  thee  thanks,  semper    gratias    agere,    Do- 

O    holy      Lord,      almighty  mine     sancte,     Pater    omni- 

Father,    eternal    God,    who  potens,     aeterne    Deus,     cui 

lovest  rather  to  pardon  than  proprium  est  veniam   deKc- 

Q 


226 


ADVENT. 


tis  impendere,  quam  poenali- 
ter  imminere.  Qui  fabri- 
cam  tui  operis  per  eumdem 
rursus  lapidem  es  dignatus 
erigere,  ne  imago,  quae  ad 
similitudinem  tui  facta  fue- 
rat  vivens,  dissimilis  habere- 
tur  ex  morte.  Munus  veni- 
alis  indulgentiae  praestitisti  : 
ut  unde  mortem  peccato 
contraxerat,  inde  vitam  pie- 
tasrepararetimmensa.  Haec 
postquam  Prophetica  saepius 
vox  praedixit ;  et  Gabriel 
Angelus  Marias  jam  prae- 
sentia  nuntiavit,  mox  puellae 
credentis  in  utero,  fidelis 
Verbi  mansit  aspirata  con- 
ceptio  ;  et  ilia  proles  nas- 
cendi  sub  lege  latuit,  quae 
cuncta  suo  nasci  nutu  con- 
cessit. Tumebatur  Virginis 
sinus  ;  et  foecunditate  suo- 
rum  visccrum  corpus  mira- 
batur  iiitactum.  Grande 
mundo  spondebatur  auxi- 
liurn,  foeminae  partus  sine 
viro  mysterium  ;  quando 
nullius  maculae  nebula  fus- 
cata  tenso  nutriebat  ventre 
praecordia,  mox  futura  sui 
genitrix  genitoris. 


to  punish  sin.  Who  didst 
mercifully  use  in  the  resto- 
ration of  thy  work  the  same 
stone  wherewith  thou  hadst 
made  it,  lest  the  image  made 
to  thy  likeness  living,  should, 
dying,  become  unlike  thee. 
Thou  didst  bestow  on  man 
the  gift  of  an  indulgent  par- 
don ;  that  thence  thy  bound- 
less mercy  should  restore 
life,  whence  man  by  his  sin 
had  wrought  death.  It  was 
this  that  the  voice  of  the 
Prophets  had  often  foretold  ; 
it  was  this  that  the  Angel 
Gabriel  announced  to  Mary 
as  then  to  be  presently  ac- 
complished. The  Virgin 
believed,  and  in  that  same 
hour,  there  was  conceived  in 
her  womb  the  long-sighed- 
for  Word,  ever  faithful  to 
his  promises.  There  did  her 
Child  lay  concealed,  until 
the  law,  which  fixed  the 
time  of  birth,  had  been 
observed,  though  it  was  He, 
whose  sovereign  will  granted 
all  things  to  be  born.  The 
Virgin  was  seen  to  be  a 
Mother ;  it  was  the  prodigy 
of  there  being  in  the  same 
body  an  immense  fruitful- 
ness  and  an  angelic  purity. 
Great  was  the  help  augured 
to  the  world  by  this  mystery 
of  a  Virgin  Mother,  where- 
by the  Mother  of  her  own 
Creator  nourished  him  in 
her  womb,  she  whose  purity 
was  undimmed  by  the  least 
shadow  of  a  stain. 


r 

WEDNESDAY   IN    EMBER   WEEK.  227 

WEDNESDAY 

TN     EMBER     WEEK. 


The  Lord  is  now  nigh ;  Prope  est  jam  Dominus ; 
come,  let  us  adore.  venite,  adoremus. 

Today  the  Church  begins  the  Fast  of  Quatuor 
Tempora,  or,  as  we  call  it,  of  Ember  days :  it  in- 
cludes also  the  Friday  and  Saturday  of  this  same 
week.  This  observance  is  not  peculiar  to  the  Advent 
liturgy;  it  is  one  which  has  been  fixed  for  each  of 
the  four  seasons  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Year.  We  may 
consider  it  as  one  of  those  practices  which  the  Church 
took  from  the  Synagogue ;  for  the  Prophet  Zach- 
arias  speaks  of  the  fourth,  fifth,  seventh,  and  tenth 
months.1  Its  introduction  into  the  Christian  Church 
would  seem  to  have  been  made  in  the  apostolic  times; 
such,  at  least,  is  the  opinion  of  St.  Leo,  of  St.  Isidore 
of  Seville,  of  Rabanus  Maurus,  and  of  several  other 
ancient  Christian  writers.  It  is  remarkable,  on  the 
other  hand,  that  the  Orientals  do  not  observe  this  fast. 

From  the  first  ages,  the  Quatuor  Tempora  were 
kept,  in  the  Roman  Church,  at  the  same  time  of  the 
year  as  at  present.  As  to  the  expression,  which  is 
not  unfrequently  used  in  the  early  writers,  of  The 
Three  Times  and  not  The  Four,  we  must  remember, 
that  in  the  spring,  these  Days  always  come  in  the 
first  week  of  Lent,  a  period  already  consecrated  to  the 
most  rigorous  fasting  and  abstinence,  and  that  con- 
sequently  they  could  add  nothing  to  the  penitential 
exercises  of  that  portion  of  the  year. 

The  intentions,  which  the  Church  has  in  the  fast 
of  the  Ember  Days,  are  the  same  as  those  of  the 
1  Zach.  viii.  19. 


228  ADVENT. 

Synagogue ;  namely,  to  consecrate  to  God  by  penance 
the  four  Seasons  of  the  year.  The  Ember  Days  of 
Advent  are  known,  in  ecclesiastical  antiquity,  by  the 
name  of  the  Fast  of  the  tenth  Month ;  and  St.  Leo, 
in  one  of  his  Sermons  on  this  Fast,  and  of  which  the 
Church  has  inserted  a  passage  in  the  second  Nocturn 
of  the  third  Sunday  of  Advent,  tells  us  that  a  special 
fast  was  fixed  for  this  time  of  the  year,  because  the 
fruits  of  the  earth  had  then  all  been  gathered  in,  and 
that  it  behoved  Christians  to  testify  their  gratitude  to 
God  by  a  sacrifice  of  abstinence,  thus  rendering  them- 
selves more  worthy  to  approach  to  God,  the  more  they 
were  detached  from  the  love  of  created  things  ;  "  for 
"  Fasting,"  adds  the  holy  Doctor,  "  has  ever  been  the 
"  nourishment  of  virtue.  Abstinence  is  the  source  of 
"  chaste  thoughts,  of  wise  resolutions,  and  of  salutary 
"  counsel.  By  voluntary  mortifications,  the  flesh 
"  dies  to  its  concupiscences,  and  the  spirit  is  renewed 
"  in  virtue.  But  since  Fasting  alone  is  not  sufficient 
"  whereby  to  secure  the  soul's  salvation,  let  us  add  to 
"  it  works  of  mercy  towards  the  poor.  Let  us  make 
"  that  which  we  retrench  from  indulgence,  serve  unto 
"  the  exercise  of  virtue.  Let  the  abstinence  of  him 
"  that  fasts,  become  the  meal  of  the  poor  man." 

Let  us,  the  children  of  the  Church,  practise  what 
is  in  our  power  of  these  admonitions  ;  and  since  the 
actual  discipline  of  Advent  is  so  very  mild,  let  us  be 
so  much  the  more  fervent  in  fulfilling  the  precept  of 
the  fast  of  the  Ember  Days.  By  these  few  exercises 
which  are  now  required  of  us,  let  us  keep  up  within 
ourselves  the  zeal  of  our  forefathers  for  this  holy  sea- 
son of  Advent.  We  must  never  forget,  that  although 
the  interior  preparation  is  what  is  absolutely  essential 
for  our  profiting  by  the  Coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  yet  this  preparation  could  scarcely  be  real, 
unless  it  manifested  itself  by  the  exterior  practices 
of  religion  and  penance. 

The  fast  of  the  Ember  Days  has  another  object 


WEDNESDAY   IN   EMBER   WEEK.  229 

besides  that  of  consecrating  the  four  seasons  of  the 
year  to  God  by  an  act  of  penance  ;  it  has  also  in  view 
the  Ordination  of  the  Ministers  of  the  Church,  which 
takes  place  on  the  Saturday,  and  of  which  notice  was 
formerly  given  to  the  people  during  the  Mass  of  the 
Wednesday.  In  the  Roman  Church,  the  Ordination 
held  in  the  month  of  December  was,  for  a  long  time, 
the  most  solemn  of  all ;  and  it  would  appear,  from 
the  ancient  Chronicles  of  the  Popes,  that,  excepting 
very  extraordinary  cases,  the  tenth  month  was,  for 
several  ages,  the  only  time  for  the  conferring  Holy 
Orders  in  Rome.  The  faithful  should  unite  with  the 
Church  in  this  her  intention,  and  offer  to  God  their 
fasting  and  abstinence  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
worthy  Ministers  of  the  Word  and  the  Sacraments, 
and  true  Pastors  of  the  people. 

The  Church  does  not  read  anything,  in  the  Matins 
of  to-day,  from  the  Prophet  Isaias :  she  merely  reads 
a  sentence  from  the  Chapter  of  St.  Luke,  which  gives 
our  Lady's  Annunciation,  to  which  she  subjoins  a 
passage  from  St.  Ambrose's  Homily  on  that  Gospel. 
The  fact  of  this  Gospel  having  been  chosen  for  the 
Office  and  Mass  of  to-day,  has  made  the  Wednesday 
of  the  third  week  of  Advent  a  very  marked  day  in 
the  calendar.  In  several  ancient  Ordinaries,  used  by 
many  of  the  larger  Churches,  both  Cathedral  and 
Abbatial,  we  find  it  prescribed,  that  feasts  falling  on 
this  Wednesday  should  be  transferred :  that  the 
ferial  prayers  should  not  be  said  kneeling,  on  that 
day ;  that  the  Gospel  Missus  est,  that  is,  of  the 
Annunciation,  should  be  sung  at  Matins  by  the 
Celebrant,  vested  in  a  white  cope,  with  cross,  lights, 
and  incense,  the  great  bell  tolling  meanwhile;  that 
in  Abbeys,  the  Abbot  should  preach  a  homily  to  the 
Monks,  as  on  solemn  feasts.  We  are  indebted  to 
this  custom  for  the  four  magnificent  Sermons  of  St. 
Bernard  on  our  Blessed  Lady,  and  which  are  entitled: 
Super  Missus  est 


230  ADVENT. 

As  the  Mass  of  the  Ember  Days  is  seldom  sung, 
excepting  in  Churches  where  the  Canonical  Office  is 
said  ;  as  also  that  we  might  not  add  unnecessarily 
to  this  volume,  we  have  thought  it  advisable  to  omit 
the  Masses  of  Ember  Wednesday,  Friday,  and  Satur- 
day of  Advent.  The  Station  for  the  Wednesday  is 
at  St.  Mary  Major,  on  account  of  the  Gospel  of  the 
Annunciation,  which,  as  we  have  just  seen,  has  made 
this  day  be  looked  upon  as  a  real  Feast  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin. 

Having  to  speak,  later  on,  of  this  Mystery,  in  the 
Proper  of  Saints,  we  will  conclude  this  Wednesday 
with  a  Prose  of  the  Middle  Ages,  in  honour  of  our 
Blessed  Lady's  receiving  the  Angel's  salutation,  and 
with  a  prayer  taken  from  one  of  the  ancient  Liturgies. 


PROSE   IN   HONOUR   OF   THE   BLESSED  VIRGIN. 

{Taken  from  the  Missal  of  Cluny  of  1523). 

Angelas  ad  Virginern  The   Angel,    entering  the 

Subintrans  in  conclavi,  Virgin's  chamber,  and  gently 

Virginis  formidinem  bidding  her  not  to  fear,  says 

Demulcens,  inqnit  ei :  to  her  : 

Ave,  Regina  virginum,  Hail,   Queen  of  Virgins  ! 

Coeli  terraeque  Dominum  thou   shalt  conceive  in  thy 

Concipies  et  paries,  womb  the   Lord  of  heaven 

Intacta,  and  earth  ;  and  still  remain- 

Salutem  hominum  ;  ing  a  Virgin,  thou  shalt  bring 

Tu  porta  coeli  facta,  forth  the  Salvation  of  man- 

Medela  criminum.  kind,  0  Gate  of  heaven  bring- 
ing to  the  world  the  remedy 
of  its  iniquities  ! 

Quomodo  conciperem,  How  shall  this  be,  replied 

Quse  virum  non  cognovi  %  the  Virgin,  for  I  know  not 

Qualiter  infringerem  man  1      How   wouldst  thou 

Quae  firnia  mente  vovi  1  have  me  break  the  vow  which 

I  have  sworn  to  keep  1 

Spiritus  Sancti  gratia  The  grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost 

Perficiet  haec  omnia :  shall    accomplish    all    these 

Ne  timeas,  sed  gaudeas,  things,  said  the  Angel.    Fear 

Secura  not,   but  rejoice.     I   assure 


WEDNESDAY   IN   EMBER   WEEK. 


231 


thee,  thy  virginity  shall  be 
left  intact  :  the  power  of 
God  shall  maintain  it. 

To  this  the  noble  Virgin 
answering,  said  to  the  Angel : 
I  am  the  lowly  handmaid  of 
the  Omnipotent  God. 

Consenting  to  thy  word,  O 
heavenly  messenger,  bearer 
of  so  great  a  secret,  and  de- 
siring to  see  fulfilled  what 
thou  announcest,  1  am  ready 
to  obey  the  decree  of  God. 

The  Angel  left  her,  and  in 
that  moment  her  virginal 
womb  conceived  the  Word 
made  flesh  from  hers. 

This  was  his  chosen  enclo- 
sure for  nine  months  :  then 
he  left  it,  and  began  the 
great  combat,  carrying  the 
cross  upon  his  shoulders, 
wherewith  he  struck  the 
enemy  who  brought  death 
into  the  world. 

Oh  !  dear  Mother  of  Jesus, 
who  didst  bring  peace  to 
Angels  and  to  men  by  giving 
birth  to  Christ, 

Pray  for  us  to  this  thy  Son, 
that  he  be  merciful  to  us,  and 
forgive  us  our  sins,  and  give 
us  his  assistance,  whereby, 
after  this  exile,  we  may  pos- 
sess the  blessed  joys  of  eternal 
life.     Amen. 


Quod  castimonia 
Manebit  in  te  pura, 
Dei  potentia. 

Ad  haec  Virgo  nobilis 
Respondens  in  quit  ei  : 
Servula  sum  humilis 
Omnipotentis  Dei. 

Tibi  ccelesti  nuncio, 
Tanti  secreti  conscio, 
Consentiens,  et  cupiens 

Videre 
Factum  quod  audio, 
Parata  sum  parere 
Dei  consilio. 

Angelus  disparuit, 
Et  statim  puellaris 
Uterus  intumuit, 
Vi  partus  virginalis. 

Qui  circumdatus  utero, 
Novem  mensium  numero, 
Hinc  exiit  et  iniit 

Conflictuin, 
Afngens  humero  crucem, 
Quae  dedit  ictnm 
Hosti  mortifero. 

Eia  !  Mater  Domini, 
Quae  pacem  reddidisti 
Angelo  et  ho  mini, 
Quando  Christum  genuisti 

Tuum  exora  Filiuni 
Ut  se  nobis  propitium 
Exhibeat,  et  deleat 

Peccata, 
Praestans  auxilium 
Vita  frui  beata, 
Post  hoc  exsilium.     Amen. 


PRAYER   FROM   THE   MOZARABIC   MISSAL. 

{Second  Sunday  of  Advent,  Illatio.) 

_  It  is  meet  and  just,  truly  Dignum    et   justum    est  : 

right  and  available  to  salva-  vere  sequum  et  salutare  est, 

tion  that  we  should  extol  the  Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi 

Coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Adventum     in    mirabHibus 


232 


ADVENT. 


praedicare :  quern  inter  homi- 
nes nasciturum  ccelestis  nun- 
tius  nunciavit.  Virgo  terrena 
dum  salutaretur  audivit  : 
Spiritus  Sanctus  in  utero, 
dum  veniret  creavit,  ut  Ga- 
briele  dicente,  Maria  credente, 
Dei  VerboSpiiitu  cooperante, 
sequeretur  salutationem  An- 
gelicam  securitas,  promissio- 
nem  perficeret  Veritas;  ut  Al- 
tissimi  obumbrante  virtute, 
didicisset  se  esse  foecundam 
virgin  itas.  Ecce  cuncipies  in 
utero,  et  paries  filium,  Ange- 
lus  prsedicavit :  et :  Quomodo 
fiet  istud,  Maria  respondit. 
Sed  quia  hasc  credendo,  non 
dubitando  respondit,irnplevit 
Spiritus  Sanctus  quod  Ange- 
lus  spopondit.  Virgo  ante 
conceptum,  virgo  semper 
futura  post  partum,  Deum 
suum  prius  mente,  dehinc 
ventre  concepit ;  sal u tern 
mundi  prima  suscepit  Virgo 
plena  gratia  Dei,  et  ideo  vera 
Mater  Filii  Dei. 


Christ  as  one  of  the  highest 
of  God's  wonderful  works. 
A  heavenly  messenger  an- 
nounced that  he  would  be 
born  among  men.  A  Virgin, 
dwelling  on  this  earth,  was 
saluted  by  the  Angel,  and 
heard  the  great  mystery.  The 
Holy  Ghost  produced  it  in 
the  Virgin's  womb,  when  he 
came  to  her.  So  that  thus, 
Gabriel  announcing,  Mary 
believing,  and  the  Spirit  co- 
operating with  the  Word  of 
God,  confidence  followed  the 
angelical  salutation,  and  the 
promise  was  fulfilled  by  the 
reality  that  the  Virgin  should 
find  herself  to  be  made  a 
mother,  by  the  power  of  the 
Most  High  overshadowing 
her.  Behold,  said  the  Angel, 
thou  shalt  conceive  in  thy 
womb,  and  bring  forth  a  Son. 
How  shall  this  be  1  answered 
Mary.  But  because  she  said 
it  from  faith,  not  from  doubt, 
the  Holy  Ghost  accomplished 
what  the  Angel  promised. 
Virgin  before  the  conception, 
and  Virgin  after  the  birth  of 
her  Son,  she  had  received  her 
God  in  her  soul,  before  pos- 
sessing him  in  her  womb. 
Virgin  full  of  the  grace  of 
God,  she  was  the  first  to  re- 
ceive the  salvation  of  the 
world,  and  therefore  was 
chosen  to  be  the  true  Mother 
of  the  Son  of  God. 


THIRD   THURSDAY   OF   ADVENT. 


233 


THURSDAY 

OF  THE  THIRD  WEEK  OF  ADVENT. 


The  Lord  is  now  nigh ; 
come,  let  us  adore. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 

Ch.  XXXIII. 

O  Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  : 
for  we  have  waited  for  thee  : 
be  thou  our  arm  in  the 
morning,  and  our  salvation 
in  the  time  of  trouble.  At 
the  voice  of  the  Angel  the 
people  fled,  and  at  the  lifting 
up  thyself  the  nations  are 
scattered.  And  your  spoils 
shall  be  gathered  together  as 
the  locusts  are  gathered,  as 
when  the  ditches  are  full  of 
them.  The  Lord  is  magnified, 
for  he  hath  dwelt  on  high  : 
he  hath  filled  Sion  with  judg- 
ment and  justice.  And  there 
shall  be  faith  in  thy  times, 
riches  of  salvation,  wisdom 
and  knowledge  :  the  fear  of 
the  Lord  is  his  treasure.  The 
sinners  in  Sion  are  afraid  : 
trembling  hath  seized  upon 
the  hypocrites.  Which  of  you 
can  dwell  with  devouring  fire  1 
which  of  you  shall  dwell  with 
everlasting  burnings  1  He 
that  walketh  injustices,  and 
speaketh  truth,  that  casteth 
away  avarice  by  oppression, 
and  shaketh  his  hands  from 
all  bribes,  that  stoppeth  his 


Prope  est  jam  Dominus  ; 
venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 

Cap.  XXXIII. 

Domine,  miserere  nostri  : 
te  enim  exspectavimus  :  esto 
brachium  nostrum  in  mane, 
et  salus  nostra  in  tempore 
tribulationis.  A  voce  Angeli 
fugerunt  populi,  et  ab  exal- 
tatione  tua  dispersse  sunt 
Gentes.  Et  congregabuntur 
spolia  vestra  sicut  colligitur 
bruchus,  velut  cum  fossae 
plenaefuerint  de  eo.  Magni- 
ficatus  est  Dominus,  quo- 
ndam habitavit  in  excelso  : 
implevit  Sion  judicio  et  jus- 
tit ia.  Et  erit  fides  in  tem- 
poribus  tuis  :  divitiae  salutis, 
sapientia  et  scientia  :  timor 
Domini  ipse  est  thesaurus 
ejus.  Conterriti  sunt  in  Sion 
peccatores  :  possedit  tremor 
hypocritas.  Quis  poterit 
habitare  de  vobis  cum  igne 
devorante  1  quis  habitabit 
ex  vobis  cum  ardoribus 
sempiternis  %  Qui  ambulat 
in  justitiis,  et  loquitur  veri- 
tatem,  qui  projicit  avaritiam 
ex  calumnia,  et  excutit  manus 
suas  ab  omni  munere,  qui 
obturat  aures  suas  ne  audiat 
sanguinem,  et  claudit  oculos 


234  ADVENT. 

suos  ne  videat  malum.     Iste  ears  lest  he  hear  blood,  and 

in  excelsis  kabitabit,  muni-  shutteth  his  eyes  that  he  may 

menta    saxorurn    sublimitas  see  no  evil.     He  shall  dwell 

ejus  :    panis    ei    datus    est,  on  high,  the  fortifications  of 

aquas      ejus      fideles      sunt,  rocks  shall  be  his  highness  : 

Regem  in   decore  suo    vide-  bread  is  given  him,  his  waters 

bunt     oculi    ejus  ;     cement  are  sure.     His  eyes  shall  see 

terram  de  longe.  the  King  in  his  beauty  ;  they 

shall  see  the  land  far  off. 


Happy  he  whose  eyes  shall  thus  contemplate  the 
new-born  King  in  the  sweet  majesty  of  his  love  and 
his  humility!  He  shall  be  so  taken  with  this  hisbeauty, 
that  the  earth,  with  all  its  magnificence,  shall  appear 
as  nothing  in  his  eyes.  The  only  thing  he  will  care 
to  look  upon,  will  be  upon  Him  that  shall  be  laid  in 
a  manger,  and  wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes.  But, 
that  we  may  have  this  happiness  of  closely  contem- 
plating the  divine  King  who  is  coming  to  us,  that 
we  may  merit  to  enter  his  court,  we  must  do  as  the 
Prophet  bids  us:  we  must  walk  injustice,  and  speak 
truth.  Let  us  listen  to  the  pious  Rabanus  Maurus, 
who  expresses  this,  with  much  unction,  in  his  first 
Sermon  on  Preparation  for  the  feast  of  Christmas : 
"  If  at  all  times  it  behoves  us  to  be  adorned  with  the 
"  comeliness  of  good  works,  we  should  be  so,  with  an 
"  especial  care,  on  the  Day  of  our  Saviour's  Birth. 
"  Consider  within  yourselves,  my  Brethren,  what 
"  you  would  do,  were  a  king,  or  prince,  to  invite  you 
"  to  come  to  celebrate  his  Birth-day.  Your  garments 
"  would  be  as  new,  as  elegant,  even  as  magnificent, 
"as  you  could  procure  them,  for  you  would  think  it 
"an  insult  to  him  who  invited  you,  were  you  to  ap- 
"  pear  before  him  with  anything  upon  you  that  was 
"torn,  or  poor,  or  unclean.  Show  a  like  solicitude 
"  on  the  occasion  of  the  coming  Feast; — and  let  your 
"souls,  beautified  with  the  several  ornaments  of 
"  virtue,  go  forth  to  their  King.  He  loves  the  pearls 
"  of  simplicity,  and  the  flowers  of  chaste  sobriety  : 


THIRD   THURSDAY   OF  ADVENT.  235 

"  wear  them  therefore.  Let  your  consciences  be 
"  composed  in  a  holy  calm,  now  that  the  solemn  feast 
"  of  Jesus'  Nativity  is  so  close  upon  us.  Assist  at  it 
"lovely  in  your  chastity,  gorgeous  in  your  charity, 
"beauteous  by  your  almsdeeds,  brilliant  with  justice 
"and  humility,  and,  above  all,  radiant  in  the  love  of 
"  God.  If  the  Lord  Jesus  shall  see  you  thus  when 
"you  keep  his  feast, believe  me,  he  will  do  more  than 
"  visit  your  souls  ;  he  will  treat  you  with  such  fami- 
"  liarity,  that  he  will  choose  them  for  his  favourite 
"  abode,  and  there  he  will  dwell  forever,  as  it  is  written: 
"  Behold  !  I  will  come,  and  I  will  dwell  with  them  ; 
"  and  they  shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their 
"  God."  Christians,  you  have  no  time  to  lose :  quickly 
prepare  yourselves  for  this  great  visit.  Let  sinners 
be  converted  and  become  just:  let  the  just  become 
more  just ;  let  the  holy  become  more  holy,  for  he 
that  is  coming  is  the  Lord  our  God,  and  none  else. 

A  PROSE  FOR  THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 

{Composed  in  the  llth  century,  and  taken  from  the  ancient 

Roman-French  Missals.) 

Let  us  sing  together  to  our  Jubilemus  omnes  una,  Deo 

God,  who  created  all  things  ;  nostro  qui  creavit  omnia  ; 

By   whom   all  ages  were  Per    quern    condita    sunt 

made  ;  saecula  ; 

The      firmament,      which  Ccelum  quod  plurima  luce 

shines  with  much  light,  and  coruscat,  et  diversa  sidera  ; 
the  countless  stars  ; 

The  sun,  the  ornament  of  Sol  mundi schema, noctium 

the  world  ;  the  moon,  which  decus  luna,  cunctaque  splen- 

is  the  night's  beauty ;  and  all  dentia  ; 
shining  things  ; 

The  sea,  the  land,  the  hills,  Mare,  solum,  alta,  plana,  et 

the    plains,    and    the     deep  profunda  flumina ; 
rivers  ; 

The  wide  space  of  the  air,  Aeris  ampla   spatia  :  quae 

through   which   float  birds,  discurrunt  aves,  venti  atque 

and  winds,  and  rain  ;  pluvia. 

All  these  obey  thee  alone,  Hsec  simul  cuncta  tibi  soli 

O  God,  as  their  Maker  and  Deo  Patri  militant. 
King. 


236 


ADVENT. 


Nunc  et  in  sevum,  sine  fine 
per  sascula  : 

Laus  eorum  tua  gloria  ; 

Qui  pro  salute  nostra  Pro- 
lem  unicam 

Pati  in  terra  misisti  sine 
culpa,  sed  ob  nostra  delicta. 

Te,  Sancta  Trinitas,  pre- 
camur,  ut  corpora  nostra  et 
cord  a  regas  et  protegas,  et 
dones  peccatorum  veniani. 
Amen. 


Now  and  evermore,  for 
endless  ages  : 

Their  praise  is  thy  glory  ; 

Who  for  our  salvation  didst 
send  thine  Only  Begotten 
Son, 

In  whom  could  be  no  sin, 
to  suffer  on  earth  for  our 
sins. 

We  beseech  thee,  0  Holy 
Trinity,  to  govern  and  pro- 
tect our  souls  and  bodies,  and 
grant  us  forgiveness  of  our 
sins.     Amen. 


PRAYER   FROM    THE   AMRROSIAN   MISSAL. 


{Second  Sunday  of  Advent,  Praefatio.) 


Vere  dignum  et  justum  est, 
sequuin  et  salutare,  nos  tibi 
semper  et  ubique  gratias 
agere,  Domine  sancte,  Pater 
omnipotens.  asterne  Deus, 
per  Christum  Dominum  nos- 
trum :  cujus  Incarnatione 
salus  facta  est  mundi,  et  Pas- 
sione  redemptio  procurataest 
hominis  procreati.  Ipse  nos, 
quaesumus,  ad  seternum  per- 
ducat  prsemium,  qui  redemit 
nos  de  tenebris  infernorum  : 
justificetque  in  Adventu  se- 
cundo,  qui  nos  redemit  in 
primo  :  quatenus  illius  nos  a 
malis  omnibus  defendat  sub- 
limitas,  cujus  nos  ad  vitam 
erexit  humilitas. 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 
right  and  available  to  salva- 
tion, that  we  should  always 
and  in  all  places,  give  thanks 
to  thee,  0  holy  Lord,  almighty 
Father,  eternal  God,  through 
Christ  our  Lord  :  by  whose 
Incarnation  has  been  wrought 
the  salvation  of  the  world, 
and  by  whose  Passion  has 
been  purchased  the  redemp- 
tion of  his  creature  man. 
Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  that 
he,  who  redeemed  us  from 
the  dark  prison  of  hell,  may 
lead  us  to  the  rewards  which, 
are  eternal  ;  and  justify  us 
in  his  second  Coming,  who 
redeemed  us  in  the  first :  that 
thus,  he,  whose  humility  ex- 
alted us  unto  life,  may  by  his 
most  high  majesty  shield  us 
from  all  evil. 


FRIDAY   IN   EMBER    WEEK.  237 


FRIDAY 

IN    EMBER     WEEK. 


The  Lord  is  now  nigh  :  Prope  est  jam  Dominus  ; 
come,  let  us  adore.  venite,  adoremus. 

The  Church  does  not  read  anything  from  the 
Prophet  Isaias  to-day ;  she  merely  gives,  in  the 
Office  of  Matins,  a  sentence  of  that  chapter  of  St. 
Luke's  Gospel,  which  relates  the  mystery  of  our 
Lady's  Visitation  :  and  to  this  she  subjoins  a  frag- 
ment of  St.  Ambrose's  Homily  upon  that  passage. 
The  considerations  and  affections  with  which  this 
important  event  of  our  Lady's  life  ought  to  inspire 
the  faithful,  shall  be  given  further  on,  in  the  Proper 
of  the  Saints. 

The  Station  for  to-day  is  in  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Apostles,  which  many  suppose  to  have  been 
first  built  by  Constantine,  and  in  which  the  glorious 
bodies  of  the  two  holy  Apostles  Philip  and  James 
the  Less,  buried  under  the  altar,  await  the  second 
Coming  of  Him,  who  chose  them  as  his  co- 
operators  in  the  work  of  the  first,  and  who,  on 
the  last  day,  will  give  them  to  sit  upon  thrones  near 
his  own,  judging  the  twelve  Tribes  of  Israel.1 

That  we  may  the  better  conform  to  the  intentions 
of  our  Holy  Mother  the  Church,  who  offers  to  our 
contemplation  the  Visitation  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
let  us  recite  the  following  Hymn,  composed  in  honour 
of  this  Mystery,  during  the  ages  of  faith  : 

1  St.  Matt.  xix. 


238 


ADVENT. 


A   PROSE   IN   HONOUR   OF   THE    BLESSED   VIRGIN. 


{Taken  from  the  Ancient  Roman-French  Missals.) 


Ave,  Verbi  Dei  parens, 
Virginis  humilitas 
Ave,  omni  nodo  carens, 
Humilis  virgin  it  as. 

Gaude,  quae  sic  gravidaris, 
Nee  gravaris  Filio  : 
Gaude  quae  sic  oneraris 
Onere  gratissimo. 

Salve,  Jesse  stirpe  orta, 
Virgula  fructifera. 
Salve,  clausa  templi  porta, 
Soli  Deo  pervia. 

Plaude,  vellns  Gedeonis, 
Rore  madens  Pneumatis. 
Plaude,  pellis  Salomonis, 
Pulchrior  prse  caeteris. 

Vale,  Jacob  micans  stella, 
Circumlustrans  maria. 
Vale,  consignata  cella, 
Rubus  in  vi  flammea. 

Euge,  sole  quod  amicta 
Solem  gignis  stellula. 
Euge,  quod  sis  prseelecta, 
Scala  coeli  fulgida. 


Pange,  aurora  consurgens 
Luce  novi  sideris  ; 
Pange,  area  trina  ferens 
Charismata  miseris. 


Eia !  magnificat  tua 
Jesum  Christum  anima  ; 
Eia  !  tecum  ut  laudemus 
Ora,  dulcis  Maria.    Amen. 


Hail,  Mother  of  the  divine 
Word  !  Hail,  most  humble 
and  most  spotless  Virgin  ! 

Rejoice,  thou  Mother  of  a 
Son  who  supports  thee  !  Re- 
joice, thy  burden  is  a  burden 
most  sweet  to  bear  ! 

Hail,  Branch  of  Jesse, 
Fruit-bearing  Branch  !  Hail, 
Gate  of  the  Temple,  closed  to 
all  but  God  ! 

Be  glad,  thou  Fleece  of 
Gedeon,  full  of  the  dew  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  !  Be  glad, 
thou  tent  of  Solomon,  of  all 
the  first  in  beauty  ! 

Hail,  shining  Star  of  Jacob, 
lighting  up  the  sea !  Hail, 
thou  sealed-up  Sanctuary, 
thou  Burning  Bush  ! 

What  bliss  is  thine,  that 
thouthehumble  Starshouldst 
be  clad  with  the  Sun, and  then 
bring  forth  the  Sun  !  What 
bliss  is  thine,  that  thou 
shouldst  be  elected  the  bright 
Ladder  reaching  up  to  hea- 
ven. 

Sing  to  thy  God,  thou 
Aurora  rising  in  the  light  of 
the  new  Star  !  Sing,  thou 
Ark  of  the  covenant,  bearing 
unto  us  sinners  thy  three 
treasures. 

Oh  !  let  thy  soul  magnify 
Jesus  !  and  oh  !  sweet  Mary, 
pray  that,  with  thee,  we  too 
may  magnify  him.     Amen. 


FRIDAY   IN   EMBER   WEEK. 


239 


PRAYER   FROM   THE   GALLICAN   SACRAMENTARY. 
(In  Adventu  Domini,  Collect.) 


O  Lord  God,  Father  Al- 
mighty, purify  the  recesses  of 
our  heart,  and  mercifully 
wash  away  all  the  stains  of 
our  sins  ;  and  grant,  O  Lord, 
that  cleansed  from  our  sins 
by  thy  merciful  blessing,  we 
may  await  in  confidence  the 
dread  and  terrible  Coming  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 


Purifica,  Domine  Deus, 
Pater  omnipotens,  pectorum 
arcana  nostrorum,  cunctas- 
que  propitius  maculas  ablue 
peccatorum  :  ac  praesta,  Do- 
mine, ut  benedictione  pietatis 
tuse  a  nostris  criminibus 
mundati,  metuendum  terri- 
bilemque  Adventum  Domini 
nostri  Jesu  Christi  exspecte- 
mus  interriti. 


240  ADVENT. 


SATURDAY 

IN     EMBER      WEEK. 


Prope  est  jam  Dominus;  The  Lord  is  now  nigh; 
venite,  adoremus.  come,  let  us  adore. 

The  Lessons  from  the  Prophet  Isaias  are  interrupted 
to-day  also ;  and  a  Homily  on  the  Gospel  of  the 
Mass  is  read  in  their  place.  As  this  Gospel  is  re- 
peated in  the  Mass  of  the  fourth  Sunday  of  Advent, 
which  is  to-xnorrow,  we  will,  for  the  present,  omit  it, 
and  be  satisfied  with  mentioning  the  reason  of  the 
same  Gospel  being  assigned  to  the  two  days. 

The  primitive  custom,  in  the  Roman  Church,  was 
to  hold  Ordinations  in  the  night  between  Saturday 
and  Sunday,  just  as  Baptism  was  administered  to  the 
Catechumens  in  the  night  between  Holy  Saturday 
and  Easter  Sunday.  The  ceremony  took  place  to- 
wards midnight,  and  Sunday  morning  was  always  far 
advanced  before  the  termination  ;  so  that  the  Mass 
of  Ordination  was  considered  as  the  Mass  of  Sunday 
itself.  Later  on,  discipline  relaxed,  and  these  severe 
vigils  were  given  up  ;  the  Ordination  Mass,  like  that 
of  Holy  Saturday,  was  anticipated  ;  and,  as  the  fourth 
Sunday  of  Advent  and  the  second  of  Lent  had  not 
hitherto  had  a  proper  Gospel,  since  they  had  not 
had  a  proper  Mass,  it  was  settled  about  the  tenth  or 
eleventh  century,  that  the  Gospel  of  the  Mass  of 
Ordinations  should  be  repeated  in  the  special  Mass 
of  the  two  Sundays  in  question. 

The  Station  is  at  St.  Peter's,  on  account  of  the 
Ordinations.     This  Basilica  was  always  one  of  the 


SATUEDAY   IN   EMBER   WEEK. 


241 


largest  of  the  City  of  Rome,  and  was  therefore  the 
best  suited  for  the  great  concourse  of  people. 

Let  us  honour  Mary  upon  this  day  of  the  week, 
which  is  consecrated  to  her  ;  let  us  borrow  a  canticle 
from  the  Oriental  Church,  ever  profuse  in  its  praise 
of  the  Mother  of  God. 


HYMN   TAKEN   FROM   THE   ANTHOLOGY   OF   THE 

GREEKS. 


{December  15.) 


As  a  royal  throne,  thou 
carriest  the  Creator  ;  as  a 
living  couch,  thou  encirclest 
the  King,  O  creature  most 
dear  to  God ! 

Branch  most  vigorous, 
thou  didst  bud  forth  the 
Christ  on  whom  we  lean  and 
are  supported  ;  for  Aaron's 
Branch,  which,  of  old,  bud- 
ded unplanted,  was  a  type  of 
thee,  thou  chaste  dove,  and 
ever  a  Virgin. 

To  sing  the  more  than 
wonderful  manner  of  thy  ex- 
traordinary and  incompre- 
hensible maternity,  is  above 
the  power  of  all  the  choirs 
of  men ;  for  no  mind,  no 
thought,  no  understanding, 
no  .  words,  can  reach  the 
mystery. 

Isaias  seeing  the  unspeak- 
able miracle,  the  ineffable 
miracle  of  thy  maternity, 
spoke  thns  divinely :  The 
Holy  Spirit  hath  come  upon 
thee,  O  Mother  of  God  !  pre- 
serving thee,  as  heretofore  he 
kept  entire  the  burning 
bush  :  and,  therefore,  we  cry 
out  with  the  Angel :  Bejoice, 
O  thou  tabernacle  of  God  ! 


Ut  thronus  purpuriformis 
Creatorem  fers  ;  ut  anima- 
tus  thalamus  regem  circum- 
das,  Deo  gratissima. 

Virga  virtutis  germinasti 
Christum  in  quo  stabilimur  ; 
te  enim  figurabat  virga 
Aaron,  olim  germinans  in- 
culta ;  casta  columba,  sem- 
per virgo. 


Hymnificare  modum  su- 
peradmirabilem,  et  omnem 
sensum  superantem  extra- 
ordinariae  tuae  graviditatis 
nesciunt  omnium  hominum 
catervae  ;  omnem  enim  men- 
tern  et  cogitationem  praeter- 
greditur,  ac  intelligentias 
omnium  et  verborum  virtu- 
tem. 

Miraculum  inenarrabile 
conceptionis  atque  imme- 
morandum  gestationis  tuae 
prodigium  videns  Isaias, 
divina  voce  clamabat  :  Spi- 
ritus  Sanctus  supervenit  in 
te,  Dei  Mater !  rubum  te 
servans  ut  olim  incombus- 
tum  ;  et  ideo  cum  Angelo 
clamamus  :  Gaude,  Dei  ta- 
bernaculum. 


242 


ADVENT. 


PRAYER   FROM   THE   MOZARABIC   MISSAL. 

(Fifth  Sunday  of  Advent,  Illatio.) 


Dignum  et  justum  est  nos 
tibi  gratias  agere,  Domine 
sancte,  Pater  seterne,  omni- 
potens  Deus,  per  Jesum 
Christum  Filium  tuum  Do- 
minum  nostrum.  Ejus  in- 
carnatio  salus  facta  est 
mundi,  et  passio  exstitit  re- 
demptio  hominis  procreati. 
Ipse  igitur  nos  omnipotens 
Pater,  quassumus^  perducat 
ad  prsemium,  qui  redemit 
detenebrisinfernorum.  Ipse 
carnem  nostram  a  delietis 
emaculet,  qui  earn  suscepit 
ex  virgine.  Ipse  nos  laesos 
tuae  restituat  majestati,  qui 
nos  tibi  per  sanguinem  suum 
reconciliavit.  Ipse  nos  se- 
cundi  Adventus  examina- 
tione  justificet,  qui  in  primo 
contulit  donum  gratias  suae. 
Ipse  ad  judicandum  veniat 
mitis,  qui  olim  apparuit 
liumilis.  Ipse  in  judicium 
ostendatur  nobis  mitissimus 
qui  dudum  venit  occultus. 


It  is  meet  and  just  that  we 
give  thee  thanks,  0  holy- 
Lord,  Eternal  Father,  Al- 
mighty God,  through  Jesus 
Christ  thy  Son  our  Lord. 
His  Incarnation  was  the  sal- 
vation of  the  world,  and  his 
Passion  the  redemption  of 
his  creature,  man.  Therefore 
we  beseech  thee,  O  almighty 
Father,  may  He  lead  us  to 
heaven,  who  purchased  us 
from  dark  hell.  May  He 
cleanse  our  flesh  from  its 
sins,  who  took  to  himself 
that  flesh  from  the  Virgin. 
May  He  again  bring  us 
from  our  treason  to  fidelity, 
who  reconciled  us  to  thee  by 
his  Blood.  May  He  make 
and  find  us  just  in  the  judg- 
ment of  his  second  Coming, 
who  conferred  upon  us  the 
gift  of  his  grace  in  the  first. 
May  He  come  to  judge  us 
in  meekness,  who  heretofore 
came  in  humility  to  dwell 
with  us.  May  He  show  him- 
self in  gentlest  meekness 
when  He  judges  us,  who 
heretofore  hid  himself  in 
deepest  humility  when  He 
redeemed  us. 


FOURTH  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT.       243 


THE  FOURTH  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


(If  this  Sunday  fall  on  the  24stk  of  December,  it 
is  omitted  that  year ;  and  in  its  place  is  said  the 
Office  of  Christmas  Eve,  which  is  given  in  the 
Proper  of  the  Saints,  December  24,  "page  532.) 

We  have  now  entered  into  the  week,  which  im- 
mediately precedes  the  Birth  of  the  Messias.  That 
long-desired  Coming  might  be  even  to-morrow  ;  and 
at  furthest,  that  is,  when  Advent  is  as  long  as  it  can 
be,  the  beautiful  feast  is  only  seven  days  from  us. 
So  that  the  Church  now  counts  the  hours ;  she 
watches  day  and  night,  and  since  the  17th  of  Decem- 
ber, her  Offices  have  assumed  an  unusual  solemnity. 
At  Lauds,  she  varies  the  Antiphons  each  day ;  and 
at  Vespers,  in  order  to  express  the  impatience  of  her 
desires  for  her  Jesus,  she  makes  use  of  the  most 
vehement  exclamations  to  the  Messias,  in  which  she 
each  day  gives  him  a  magnificent  title,  borrowed  from 
the  language  of  the  Prophets. 

To-day,1  she  makes  a  last  effort  to  stir  up  the 
devotion  of  her  children.  She  leads  them  to  the 
desert ;  she  shows  them  John  the  Baptist,  upon 
whose  mission  she  instructed  them  on  the  third 
Sunday.  The  voice  of  the  austere  Precursor  resounds 
through  the  wilderness,  and  penetrates  even  into  the 
cities.     It  preaches  penance,  and  the  obligation  men 

1  The  fourth  Sunday  of  Advent  is  called  Borate,  from  the 
Introit ;  but  more  frequently,  Canite  tuba,  which  are  the  first 
words  of  the  first  Responsory  of  Matins,  and  of  the  first  Antiphon 
of  Lauds  and  Vespers. 


244 


ADVENT. 


are  under  of  preparing,  by  self- purification,  for  the 
Coming  of  Christ.  Let  us  retire  from  the  world 
during  these  next  few  days  ;  or  if  that  may  not  be 
by  reason  of  our  external  duties,  let  us  retire  into  the 
quiet  of  our  own  hearts  and  confess  our  iniquities,  as 
did  those  true  Israelites,  who  came,  full  of  compunc- 
tion and  of  faith  in  the  Messias,  to  the  Baptist,  there 
to  make  perfect  their  preparation  for  worthily  receiv- 
ing the  Redeemer,  on  the  day  of  his  appearing  to  the 
world. 

See,  then,  with  what  redoubled  earnestness  the 
Church,  before  opening  the  book  of  her  great  Prophet, 
repeats  her  invitatory : 


Prope  est  jam  Dominus  ; 
venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 

Cap.  XXXV. 

Lsetabitur  deserta  et  in- 
via,  et  exsultabit  solitudo,  et 
florebit  quasi  lilium.  Ger- 
minans  germinabit,  et  exsul- 
tabit lsetabunda  et  laudans  ; 
gloria  Libani  data  est  ei, 
decor  Carmeli  et  Saron. 
Ipsi  videbunt  igloriam  Do- 
mini, et  decorem  Dei  nos- 
tri.  Confortate  manus  dis- 
solutas,  et  genua  debilia 
roborate.  Dicite  pusillani- 
mis  :  Confortamini,  et  nolite 
timere.  Ecee  Deus  vester 
ultionem  adducet  retribu- 
tionis  :  Deus  ipse  veniet  et 
salvabit  vos.  Tunc  ape- 
rientur  oculi  csecorum,  et 
aures  surdorum  patebunt. 
Tunc  saliet  sicut  cervus  clau- 
dus,  et  aperta  erit  lingua 
mutorum  :  quia  scissae  sunt 
in  deserto  aquae,  et  torrentes 
in  solitudine.     Et  quae  erat 


The   Lord  is  now  nigh  ; 

come,  let  us  adore. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 

Ch.  XXXV. 

The  land  that  was  desolate 
and  impassable  shall  be  glad, 
and  the  wilderness  shall  re- 
joice, and  shall  nourish  like 
the  lily.  It  shall  bud  forth 
and  blossom,  and  shall  re- 
joice with  joy  and  praise  ; 
the  glory  of  Libanus  is  given 
to  it,  the  beauty  of  Carmel 
and  Saron.  They  shall  see 
the  glory  of  the  Lord,  and 
the  beauty  of  our  God. 
Strengthen  ye  the  feeble 
hands,  and  confirm  the  weak 
knees.  Say  to  the  faint- 
hearted :  Take  courage,  and 
fear  not.  Behold  your  God 
will  bring  the  revenge  of  re- 
compense :  God  himself  will 
come  and  will  save  you. 
Then  shall  the  eyes  of  the 
blind  be  opened,  and  the 
ears  of  the  deaf  shall  be 
unstopped.     Then  shall   the 


FOURTH  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


245 


arida,  erit  in  stagnum,  et 
sitiens  in  fontes  aquarum. 
In  cubilibus,  in  quibus  prius 
dracones  habitabant,  orietur 
viror  calami  et  juncti.  Et 
erit  ibi  semita  et  via,  et  via 
sancta  vocabitur,  non  transi- 
bit  per  earn  pollutus  ;  et  heec 
erit  vobis  directa  via,  ita  ut 
stulti  non  errent  per  earn. 
Non  erit  ibi  leo,  et  mala 
bestia  non  ascendet  per  earn, 
nee  invenietnr  ibi  :  et  ambu- 
labunt  qui  liberati  fuerint. 
Et  redempti  a  Domino  con- 
vertentur,  et  venient  in  Sion, 
cum  laude,  et  lsetitia  sempi- 
terna  super  caput  eorum  ; 
gaudium  et  lsetitiam  obtine- 
bunt,  et  fugiet  dolor  et  gemi- 
tus. 


lame  man  leap  as  a  hart,  and 
the  tongue  of  the  dumb  shall 
be  free:  for  waters  are  broken 
out  in  the  desert,  and  streams 
in  the  wilderness.  And  that 
which  was  dry  land,  shall  be- 
come a  pool,  and  the  thirsty- 
land  springs  of  water.  In  the 
dens  where  dragons  dwelt 
before,  shall  rise  up  the  ver- 
dure of  the  reed  and  the  bul- 
rush. And  a  path  and  a  way- 
shall  be  there,  and  it  shall  be 
called  the  holy  way  :  the  un- 
clean shall  not  pass  over  it ; 
and  this  shall  be  unto  you  a 
straight  way,  so  that  fools 
shall  not  err  therein.  No  lion 
shall  be  there,  nor  shall  any 
mischievous  beast  go  up  by 
it,  nor  be  found  there  :  but 
they  shall  walk  there,  that 
shall  be  delivered.  And  the 
redeemed  of  the  Lord  shall 
return,  and  shall  come  into 
Sion  with  praise,  and  ever- 
lasting joy  shall  be  upon 
their  heads  :  they  shall  ob- 
tain joy  and  gladness,  and 
sorrow  and  mourning  shall 
flee  away. 

O  the  joy  of  thy  Coming,  dear  Jesus  !  how  great 
it  must  needs  be,  when  the  prophecy  says  it  shall  be 
like  an  everlasting  crown  upon  our  heads !  And 
could  it  be  otherwise  %  The  very  desert  is  to  flourish 
as  a  lily,  and  living  waters  are  to  gush  forth  out  of 
the  parched  land,  because  their  God  is  coming. 
Come,  0  Jesus,  come  quickly,  and  give  us  of  that 
Water,  which  flows  from  thy  Sacred  Heart,  and  which 
the  Samaritan  woman,  who  is  the  type  of  us  sinners, 
asked  of  thee  with  such  earnest  entreaty.  This 
Water  is  thy  Grace ;  let  it  rain  upon  our  parched 
souls,  and  they  too  will  flourish ;   let  it  quench  our 


246  ADVENT. 

thirst,  and  we  will  run  in  the  way  of  thy  precepts 
and  examples.  Thou,  0  Jesus,  art  our  Way,  our 
path,  to  God ;  and  thou  art  thyself  God ;  thou  art, 
therefore,  both  our  way  and  the  term  to  which  our 
way  leads  us.  We  had  lost  our  way ;  we  had  gone 
astray  as  lost  sheep ;  how  great  thy  love  to  come 
thus  in  search  of  us  !  To  teach  us  the  way  to  heaven, 
thou  hast  deigned  to  come  down  from  heaven,  and 
then  tread  with  us  the  road  which  leads  to  it.  No  ! 
there  shall  be  no  more  weak  hands,  nor  feeble  knees, 
nor  faint  hearts ;  for  we  know  that  it  is  in  love  that 
thou  art  coming  to  us.  There  is  but  one  thing  which 
makes  us  sad :— our  preparation  is  not  complete. 
We  have  some  ties  still  to  break  ;  help  us  to  do  it, 
O  Saviour  of  mankind !  We  desire  to  obey  the 
voice  of  thy  Precursor,  and  make  plain  those  rugged 
paths,  which  would  prevent  thy  coming  into  our 
hearts,  0  divine  Infant  !  Give  us  to  be  baptised  in 
the  Baptism  of  the  waters  of  penance ;  thou  wilt 
soon  follow,  baptising  us  in  the  Holy  Ghost  and 
love. 


MASS. 


The  Prophet  has  made  us  thirst  for  that  clear 
cool  fountain,  which  he  tells  us  is  to  spring  up  on  the 
coming  of  the  Messias  ;  let  us  ask,  together  with 
the  Church,  for  the  Dew  which  will  give  new  life  to 
our  hearts,  and  for  the  Rain  which  will  make  them 
fruitful. 

INTROIT. 

Rorate  coeli  desuper.  et  Drop  down  Dew,  ye  hea- 
nubes  pluant  Justum  :  ape-  vens,  from  above,  and  let  the 
riatur  terra,  et  germinet  Sal-  clouds  rain  the  Just  One  : 
vatorem.  let  the  earth  be  opened  and 

bud  forth  a  Saviour. 

Fs.  Cceli  enarrant  gloriam        Fs.   The    heavens     show 


FOUETH  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


247 


forth  the  glory  of  God  :  and  Dei  :  et  opera  manuum  ejus 

the  firmament  declareth  the  annuntiat  firmamentum.     $\ 

works  of  his  hands.  $\  Glory,  Gloria  Patri.     Cceli. 
&c.    Drop  down,  &c. 

In  the  Collect,  the  Church  implores  God  to  hasten 
the  time  of  his  coming  to  her  assistance ;  she  fears 
lest  her  sins  might  keep  her  Spouse  from  visiting 
her ;  she,  therefore,  prays  that  this  obstacle  may  be 
removed  by  his  mercy. 


COLLECT. 


Exert,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Lord,  thy  power  and  come, 
and  succour  us  by  thy  great 
might :  that  by  the  assistance 
of  thy  grace,  thy  indulgent 
mercy  may  hasten  what  is 
delayed  by  our  sins.  Who 
livest,  &c 


Excita,  quaesumus,  D onli- 
ne, potentiam  tuam,  et  veni, 
et  magna  nobis  virtute  suc- 
curre  :  ut  per  auxilium  gra- 
tise  tuse,  quod  nostra  peccata 
prsepediunt,  indulgentia  tuse 
propitiationis  acceleret.  Qui 
vivis. 


The  other  Collects,  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  against 
the  Persecutors  of  the  Church,  and  for  the  Pope,  are 
given  in  the  Mass  of  the  first  Sunday  of  Advent, 
page  132. 


EPISTLE. 


Lesson  of  the  Epistle  of 
Saint  Paul  the  Apostle  to 
the  Corinthians. 

Ch.  IV 
Brethren,  let  a  man  so  ac- 
count of  us  as  of  the  minis- 
ters of  Christ,  and  the  dis- 
pensers of  the  mysteries  of 
God.  Here  now  it  is  re- 
quired amongst  the  dispen- 
sers that  a  man  be  found 
faithful.  But  to  me  it  is  a 
very  small  thing  to  be  judged 
by  you  or  by  man's  day  :  but 
neither  do  I  judge  my  own 
self.  For  I  am  not  conscious 
to  myself  of  anything  :    yet 


Lectio  Epistolae  beati  Pauli 
Apostoli  ad  Corinthios. 

Cap.  IV 
Fratres,  sic  nos  existimet 
homo  ut  ministros  Christi, 
et  dispensatoresmysteriorum 
Dei.  Hie  jam  quseritur  in- 
ter dispensatores  ut  fidelis 
quis  inveniatur.  Mihi  autem 
pro  minimo  est  ut  a  vobis 
judicer,  aut  ab  humano  die  : 
sed  neque  meipsum  judico. 
Nihil  enim  mihi  conscius 
sum  :  sed  non  in  hoc  justifi- 
catus  sum  :  qui  autem  judi- 
cat  me  Dominus   est.     Ita- 


248 


ADVENT. 


que  nolite  ante  tempus  judi- 
care,  quoadusque  veniat  Do- 
minus  :  qui  et  illuminabit 
abscondita  tenebrarum,  et 
manifestabit  consilia  cordi- 
um  :  et  tunc  laus  erit  uni- 
cuique  a  Deo. 


I  am  not  hereby  justified  : 
but  he  that  judges  me  is  the 
Lord.  Therefore  judge  not 
before  the  time  till  the  Lord 
come  :  who  both  will  bring 
to  light  the  hidden  things  of 
darkness,  and  will  make 
manifest  the  counsels  of  the 
heart  :  and  then  shall  every 
man  have  praise  from  God. 


The  Church  here  reminds  the  people  of  the 
dignity  of  the  Christian  Priesthood.  The  occasion 
is  an  appropriate  one,  as  the  Ordinations  were  held 
yesterday.  She  also  brings  before  her  sacred  Minis- 
ters the  obligation  they  have  contracted  of  being 
faithful  to  the  duties  imposed  upon  them.  Bat  let 
not  the  flock  judge  their  Pastor;  since  all,  both 
priest  and  people,  are  living  in  expectation  of  the 
day  of  our  Saviour's  coming ;  not  only  of  that 
second  one,  for  which  we  are  now  preparing,  but  also 
of  that  last  Coming  which  will  be  as  terrible  as  the 
other  two  are  dear  to  the  hearts  of  men.  After 
having  spoken  these  words  of  stern  admonition,  the 
Church  resumes  the  expressions  of  her  hopes  and 
her  entreaties  for  the  speedy  coming  of  her  Spouse. 


GRADUAL. 


Prope  est  Dominus  omni- 
bus invocantibus  eum,  omni- 
bus qui  invocant  eum  in  ve- 
ritate.  "ft.  Laudem  Domini 
loquetur  os  meum  :  et  bene- 
dicat  omnis  caro  nomen 
sanctum  ejus. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

$".  Veni,  Domine,  et  noli 
tardare  :  relaxa  facinora  ple- 
bi  tuse  Israel.    Alleluia. 


The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  all 
them  that  call  upon  him  ;  to 
all  that  call  upon  him  in 
truth,  y.  My  mouth  shall 
speak  the  praise  of  the 
Lord  :  and  let  all  flesh  bless 
his  holy  Name. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

y.  Come,  0  Lord,  and 
delay  not  :  release  thy  people 
Israel  from  their  sins.  Alle- 
luia. 


FOURTH  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


249 


GOSPEL. 


Sequel  of  the  holy  Gospel 
according  to  Luke. 

Oh.  III. 

Now  in  the  fifteenth  year 
of  the  reign  of  Tiberius 
Caesar,  Pontius  Pilate  being 
governor  of  Judea,  and 
Herod  Tetrarch  of  Galilee, 
and  Philip  his  brother  Te- 
trarch of  Iturea  and  the 
country  of  Trachonitis,  and 
Lysanias  Tetrarch  of  Abilina, 
under  the  high  priests  Annas 
and  Caiphas,  the  word  of  the 
Lord  came  to  John,  the  son 
of  Zachary,  in  the  desert. 
And  he  came  into  all  the 
country  about  the  Jordan, 
preaching  the  baptism  of 
penance  for  the  remission  of 
sins  :  as  it  was  written  in 
the  book  of  the  words  of 
Isaias  the  Prophet :  A  voice 
of  one  crying  in  the  wilder- 
ness :  Prepare  ye  the  way  of 
the  Lord  :  make  straight  his 
paths  :  every  valley  shall  be 
filled,  and  every  mountain 
and  hill  shall  be  brought 
low  :  and  the  crooked  shall 
be  made  straight,  and  the 
rough  ways  plain  :  and  all 
flesh  shall  see  the  salvation 
of  God. 

Thou  art  nigh,  O  Lord,  for  the  inheritance  of  thy 
people  has  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Gentiles,  and 
the  land, which  thou  didst  promise  to  Abraham,  is  now 
but  a  province  of  that  vast  empire,  to  which  thine 
own  is  to  succeed.  The  oracles  of  the  Prophets  are 
being  rapidly  fulfilled,  each  in  its  turn ;  the  predic- 
tion of  Jacob  himself  has  been  accomplished  :    The 


Sequentia  sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Lucam. 

Gap.  III. 
Anno  qnintodecimo  impe- 
rii Tiberii  Csesaris,  procu- 
rante  Pontio  Pilato  Judaea  m, 
tetrarcha  autem  Galilaeae 
Herode,  Philippo  autem  fra- 
tre  ejus  tetrarcha  Ituraeae 
et  Trachonitidis  regionis,  et 
Lysania  Abilinae  tetrarcha, 
sub  principibus  sacerdotum 
Anna  et  Caipha  :  factum  est 
verbum  Domini  super  Joan- 
nem  Zachariae  filium  in  de- 
serto.  Et  venit  in  omnem 
regionem  Jordanis,  prsedi- 
cans  baptismum  pcenitentiae 
in  remissionem  peccatorum  ; 
sicut  scriptum  est  in  libro 
sermonum  Isaiae  prophetae  : 
Vox  clamantis  in  deserto  : 
Parate  viam  Domini :  rectas 
facite  semitas  ejus :  omnis 
vallis  implebitur,  et  omnis 
mons  et  collis  humiliabitur  : 
et  erunt  prava  in  directa,  et 
aspera  in  vias  planas  :  et 
videbit  omnis  caro  Salutare 
Dei. 


250  ADVENT. 

sceptre  is  taken  from  Juda.  Everything  is  ready 
for  thy  coming,  O  Jesus !  Thus  it  is  that  thou  re- 
newest  the  face  of  the  earth  ;  deign,  also,  I  beseech 
thee,  to  renew  my  heart,  and  give  me  courage  during 
these  last  few  hours  of  my  preparation  for  receiving 
thee.  I  feel  the  need  I  have  of  withdrawing  into 
solitude,  of  receiving  the  baptism  of  penance,  of 
making  straight  all  my  ways  :  O  divine  Saviour,  let 
all  this  be  done  in  me,  that  so  my  joy  may  be  full  on 
the  day  of  thy  coming. 

During  the  Offertory,  the  Church  salutes  the  ever 
glorious  Virgin,  in  whose  chaste  womb  is  still  con- 
cealed the  Saviour  of  the  world.  Give  us,  O  Mary, 
this  God,  who  fills  thee  with  himself  and  his  grace. 
The  Lord  is  with  thee,  O  incomparable  Mother  !  but 
the  happy  hour  is  rapidly  advancing,  when  he  will 
also  be  with  us ;  for  his  name  is  Emmanuel. 

OFFEKTOKY. 

Ave,  Maria,  gratia  plena  :  Hail,  Mary,  full  of  grace  : 
Dominus  tecum :  benedicta  the  Lord  is  with  thee : 
tu  in  mulieribus,  et  benedic-  Blessed  art  thou  among 
tus  f ructus  ventris  tui.  women,  and  blessed  is  the 

fruit  of  thy  womb. 

SECKET. 

Sacrifices  preesentibus,  Hear  us,  O  Lord,  we 
qusesumus,  Domine,  placatus  beseech  thee,  and  being 
intende :  ut  et  devotioni  appeased  by  these  offerings, 
nostras  proficiant,  et  saluti.  grant  they  may  increase  our 
Per  Dominum.   "  devotion,   and  advance  our 

salvation.     Through,  &c. 

The  other  Secrets  as  on  the  first  Sunday,  page  136. 

During  the  Communion,  the  Church,  now  filled 
with  the  God  who  hast  just  come  into  her,  borrows 
the  words  of  Isaias,  wherewith  to  celebrate  the  praise 


FOUETH  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


251 


of  the  Virgin  Mother.  The  same  words  apply  also  to 
the  Church  herself,  since  that  same  God,  who  made 
Mary  his  Tabernacle,  has  this  instant  visited  her. 

COMMUNION. 

Behold  a  Virgin  shall  con-  Ecce    Virgo   concipiet,  et 

ceive,  and  bear  a  son  :   and  pariet  filium  :    et  vocabitnr 

his    name    shall    be    called  nomen  ejus  Emmanuel. 
Emmanuel. 

POSTCOMMUNION. 


Having  received  what  has 
been  offered  to  thee,  O  Lord, 
grant,  we  beseech  thee,  that 
the  more  frequently  we  par- 
take of  these  sacred  myste- 
ries, the  more  our  devotion 
may  increase.     Through,  &c. 


Sumptis  mnneribus,  quse- 
sumus,  Domine  :  nt  cum  fre- 
quentatione  mysterii  crescat 
nostras  salutis  effectus.  Per 
Dominum. 


The  other  Postcommunions,  as  on  the  first  Sunday, 
'page,  137. 


VESPEES. 

(If  this  Sunday  be  Christmas  Eve,  the  following 
Antiphons  are  not  sung,  as  the  Vespers  are  of 
Christmas,  which  are  given  in  the  next  volume.) 


1.  Ant.  Sound  the  trum- 
pet in  Sion,  for  the  day  of 
the  Lord  is  nigh  :  Behold  he 
will  come  to  save  us.  Alle- 
luia, alleluia. 

2.  Ant.  Lo  !  the  Desired 
of  all  nations  will  come  :  and 
the  house  of  the  Lord  shall 
be  filled  with  glory.  Alle- 
luia. 

3.  Ant.  The  crooked  ways 
shall  be  made  straight,  and 


1.  Ant.  Canite  tuba  in  Si- 
on, quia  prope  est  dies  Do- 
mini :  ecce  veniet  ad  salvan- 
dum  nos.    Alleluia,  alleluia. 

2.  Ant.  Ecce  veniet  desi- 
deratus  cunctis  Gentibus  :  et 
replebitur  gloria  domus  Do- 
mini.   Alleluia. 

3.  Ant.  Erunt  prava  in 
directa,  et  aspera  in  vias  pla- 


252 


ADVENT. 


nas  :  veni,  Domine,  et  noli 
tardare.     Alleluia. 

4.  Ant.  Dominus  veniet, 
occurrite  illi,  dicentes  :  Mag- 
num principium,  et  regni 
ejus  non  erit  finis  ;  Deus, 
Fortis,  Dominator,  Princeps 
pacis.      Alleluia,  alleluia. 

5.  Ant.  Omnipotens  sermo 
tuus,  Domine,  a  regalibus 
sedibus  veniet.     Alleluia. 


the  rough  smooth  :  come,  O 
Lord,  and  delay  not.  Alle- 
luia. 

4.  Ant.  The  Lord  will 
come,  go  meet  him  and  say  : 
Great  is  his  Empire,  and  his 
reign  shall  have  no  end  ;  he 
is  God,  the  Mighty,  the  Ruler, 
and  Prince  of  peace.  Alle- 
luia, alleluia. 

5.  Ant.  Thy  Almighty 
word,  O  Lord,  shall  come 
from  thy  royal  throne.  Alle- 
luia. 


CAPITULUM. 


Fratres,  sic  nos  existimet 
homo  ut  ministros  Christi, 
et  dispensatores  mysterio- 
rum  Dei  :  hie  jam  quaeri- 
tur  inter  dispensatores,  ut 
fidelis  quis  inveniatur. 


Brethren,  let  a  man  so  ac- 
count of  us  as  of  the  ministers 
of  Christ,  and  the  dispensers 
of  the  mysteries  of  God  : 
here  now  it  is  required 
amongst  the  dispensers,  that 
a  man  be  found  faithful. 


The  Hymn  Creator  alme  siderum,  and  the  Can- 
ticle Magnificat,  are  given  in  pages  110  and  112. 

The  Great  Antiphon  which  is  marked  for  the  day 
of  December,  on  which  this  Sunday  falls,  is  sung  at 
the  Magnificat.  The  Great  Antiphons  are  given  in 
the  Proper  of  Saints,  (pages  508-530.) 


OKEMUS. 

Excita,  qusesumus,  Domi- 
ne, potentiam  tuam,  et  veni, 
et  magna  nobis  virtute  suc- 
curre  :  ut  per  auxilium  gra- 
tise  fuse,  quod  nostra  peccata 
prsepecliunt,  indulgentia  tuae 
propitiationis  acceleret.    Qui 


LET  US  PRAY. 

Exert,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Lord,  thy  power  and  come, 
and  succour  us  by  thy  great 
might :  that  by  the  assistance 
of  thy  grace,  thy  indulgent 
mercy  may  hasten  what  is 
delayed  by  our  sins.  Who 
livest,  &c. 


FOURTH  MONDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


•)o 


MONDAY 

OF   THE   FOUKTH  WEEK   OF   ADVENT. 


The  Lord  is  cow  nigh  ; 
come,  let  us  adore. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 

Ch.  XL1. 

But  thou,  Israel,  art  my 
servant,  Jacob  whom  I  have 
chosen,  the  seed  of  Abraham 
my  friend  ;  in  whom  I  have 
taken  thee  from  the  ends  of 
the  earth,  and  from  the  re- 
mote parts  thereof  have  called 
thee,  and  said  to  thee,  thou 
art  my  servant,  I  have  chosen 
thee,  and  have  not  cast  thee 
away.  Fear  not,  for  I  am 
with  thee  :  turn  not  aside, 
for  I  am  thy  God  :  I  have 
strengthened  thee,  and  have 
helped  thee,  and  the  right 
hand  of  my  Just  One  hath 
upheld  thee.  Behold  all  that 
fight  against  thee  shall  be 
confounded  and  ashamed  : 
they  shall  be  as  nothing,  and 
the  men  shall  perish  that 
strive  against  thee.  Thou 
shalt  seek  them,  and  shalt 
not  hnd  the  men  that  resist 
thee:  they  shall  be  as  nothing 
and  as  a  thing  consumed  the 
men  that  war  against  thee  : 
for  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God, 
who  take  thee  by  the  hand, 


Prope  est  jam  Dominus  ; 
venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 

Cap.  XLI. 

Et  tu,  Israel,  serve  meus, 
Jacob  quern  elegi,  semen 
Abraham  amici  mei  ;  in  quo 
apprehendi  te  ab  extremis 
terras,  et  a  longinquis  ejus 
vocavi  te,  et  dixi  tibi  :  Ser- 
vus  meus  es  tu,  elegi  te,  et 
non  abjeci  te.  Ne  timeas, 
quia  ego  tecum  sum  :  ne 
declines,  quia  ego  Deus  tuus  : 
confortavi  te,  et  auxiliatus 
sum  tibi,  et  suscepit  te 
dextera  Justi  mei.  Ecce 
confundentur  et  erubescent 
omnes  qui  pugnant  adver- 
sum  te  :  erunt  quasi  non  sint, 
et  peribunt  viri  qui  contra- 
dicunt  tibi.  Quaeres  eos,  et 
non  invenies,  viros  rebelles 
tuos  :  erunt  quasi  non  sint, 
et  veluti  consumptio  homines 
bellantes  adversum  te  :  quia 
ego  Dominus  Deus  tuus  ap- 
prehendens  manum  tuam, 
dicensque  tibi  :  Ne  timeas, 
ego  adjuvi  te.  Noli  timere, 
vermis  Jacob,  qui  mortui 
estis  ex  Israel :  ego  auxiliatus 
sum  tibi,  dicit  Dominus,  et 


254  ADVENT. 

redemptor  tuus  Sanctus  and  say  to  thee  :  Fear  not, 
Israel.  Ego  posui  te  quasi  I  have  helped  thee.  Fear  not, 
plaustmm  triturans  novum,  thou  worm  of  Jacob,  you 
habens  rostra  serrantia  :  tri-  that  are  dead  of  Israel  :  I 
turabis  montes,  et  commi-  have  helped  thee,  saith  the 
nues,  et  colles  quasi pulverem  Lord,  and  thy  Redeemer,  the 
pones.  Ventilabis  eos,  et  Holy  One  of  Israel.  I  have 
ventus  toilet,  et  turbo  clis-  made  thee  as  a  new  thrashing 
perget  eos  :  et  tu  exsultabis  wain  with  teeth  like  a  saw  : 
in  Domino,  in  Sancto  Israel  thou  shalt  thrash  the  moun- 
lsetaberis.  '  tains,  and  break    them    in 

pieces  :  and  shalt  make  the 
hills  as  chaff.  Thou  shalt 
fan  them,  and  the  wind  shall 
carry  them  away,  and  the 
whirlwind  shall  scatter  them: 
and  thou  shalt  rejoice  in  the 
Lord,  in  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel  thou  shalt  be  joyful. 

It  is  thus  thou  raisest  us  up  from  our  abject 
lowliness,  O  Eternal  Son  of  the  Father  !  It  is  thus 
thou  consolest  us  under  the  fear  we  so  justly  feel  by 
reason  of  our  sins.  Thou  sayest  to  us  :  Israel,  my 
servant  I  Jacob,  whom.  I  have  chosen !  seed  of 
Abraham,  in  whom  I  have  called  thee  from  the 
remote  parts  of  the  earth  !  fear  not,  for  I  am  with 
thee.  But,  O  divine  Word,  how  low  thou  hast 
had  to  come,  that  thou  mightest  be  thus  with  us  ! 
We  could  never  have  come  to  thee,  for  between  us  and 
thee  there  was  fixed  an  immense  chaos.  Nay,  we  had 
not'  so  much  as  the  desire  to  see  thee,  so  dull  of  heart 
bad  sin  made  us ;  and  had  we  desired  it,  our  eyes 
could  never  have  borne  the  splendour  of  thy  majesty. 
Then  it  was,  that  thou  didst  descend  to  us  in  person, 
yet  so  that  our  weakness  could  look  fixedly  upon 
thee,  because  veiled  under  the  cloud  of  thy  humanity. 
"  Who .  could  doubt,"  says  St.  Bernard,1  "  of  there 
"  being  some  great  cause  pending,  seeing  that  so 
"  great  a  Majesty  deigned  to  come  down,  from  so  far 
"  off,  into  so  unworthy  a  place  ?     0  yes,  there  is  some 

1  First  Sermon  of  Advent. 


FOURTH  MONDAY   OF  ADVENT.  255 

"great  thing  at  stake,  for  the  mercy  is  great,  and 
"the  commiseration  is  extreme,  and  the  charity  is 
"  abundant.  And  why,  think  you,  did  he  come  ? 
"  He  came  from  the  mountain  to  seek  the  hundredth 
"sheep,  that  was  lost.  O  wonderful  condescension,  a 
"God  seeking!  O  wonderful  worth  of  man,  that  he 
"  should  be  sought  by  God !  If  man  should  there- 
"  fore  boast,  he  is  surely  not  unwise ;  for  he  boasts 
"  not  for  aught  that  he  sees  in  himself  as  of  himself, 
"  but  for  his  very  Maker  making  such  account  of  him. 
"  All  the  riches  and  all  the  glory  of  the  world,  and 
"all  that  men  covet  in  it,  all  is  less  than  this  glory, 
"  nay,  is  nothing,  when  compared  to  it.  What  is  man, 
"  0  Lord,  that  thou  shouldst  magnify  him  ?  or  why 
"dost  thou  set  thy  Heart  upon  him?"1  Delay  not, 
then,  Good  Shepherd  !  show  thyself  to  thy  sheep. 
Thou  knowest  them ;  not  only  hast  thou  seen  them 
from  heaven,  thou  also  lookest  on  them  with  love, 
from  the  womb  of  Mary  where  thou  still  art  concealed. 
They  also  wish  to  know  Thee  ;  they  are  impatient 
to  behold  thy  divine  features,  to  hear  thy  voice,  and 
to  follow  thee  to  the  pastures  thou  hast  promised 
them. 

HYMN   FOR   THE  TIME    OF   ADYENT. 

(Composed  by  St.  Ambrose.  It  is  in  the  Ambrosian  Breviary, 
for  the  Sixth  Sunday  of  Advent.) 

It    is   a  Mystery  of    the  Mysterium  Ecclesiee, 

Church,  it  is  a  Hymn  that  Hymnum  Christo  referimus, 

we  sing  to  Christ,  the  Word  Quern  genuit  Puerpera 

of  the  Father,  become  the  Son  Verbum  Patris  in  filio. 
of  a  Virgin. 

Among  women,  thou  alone,  Sola  in  sexu  f  cemina 

0  Mary  !  wast  chosen  in  this  Electa  es  in  sseculo  : 

world,  and  wast  made  worthy  Et  meruisti  dominum 

to  carry  in  thy  holy  womb  Sancto  portare  in  utero. 
Him  who  was  thy  Lord. 

1  Job,  vii.  17, 


256 


ADVENT. 


Mysterium    hoc    magnum 
est : 
Marise  quod  concessum  est, 
Ut  Deum  per  quern  omnia 
Ex  se  videret  prodire. 

Vere  gratia  plena  es, 
Et  gloriosa  permanes, 
Quia  ex  te  natus  est  Christus 
Per  quern  facta  sunt  omnia. 

Rogemus  ergo,  populi, 
Dei  Matrem  et  Virginem, 
Ut  ipsa  nobis  impetret, 
Pacem  et  indulgentiam. 

Gloria  tibi,  Domine, 
Qui  natus  es  de  Virgine, 
Cum  Patre  et  Sancto  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  ssecula. 

Amen. 


This  is  a  great  mystery, 
that  is  given  to  Mary  :  that 
she  should  see  the  God,  who 
created  all  things,  become 
.her  own  child  ! 

How  truly  art  thou  full  of 
grace,  ever  glorious  Virgin  ! 
for  of  thee  is  born  the 
Christ,  by  whom  all  things 
were  made. 

Come  then,  ye  people,  let 
us  pray  to  the  Virgin  Mother 
of  God,  that  she  would  ob- 
tain for  us  peace  and  in- 
dulgent mercy. 

Glory  be  to  thee,  O  Lord, 
who  wast  born  of  the  Vir- 
gin !  and  to  the  Father  and 
the  Holy  Ghost,  for  ever- 
lasting ages. 

Amen. 


PRAYER   FROM   THE   AMBROSIAN   MISSAL. 


(In  the 


of  the  Fifth  Sunday  of  Advent.) 


Deus,  qui  hominem  delap- 
sum  in  mortem  conspiciens, 
unigeniti  Filii  tui  Adventu 
redimere  voluisti ;  prsesta, 
qusesumus,  ut,  qui  ejus  glo- 
riosam  Incarnationem  faten- 
tur,  ipsius  etiam  Redemp- 
toris  consortia  mereantur. 
Qui  tecum  vivit  et  regnat 
in  saecula  sseculorum.  Amen. 


O  God,  who,  seeing  man 
fallen  a  prey  to  death,  didst 
resolve  to  redeem  him  by  the 
Coming  of  thine  Only  Begot- 
ten Son  ;  grant,  we  beseech 
thee,  that  they  who  confess 
his  glorious  Resurrection, 
may  deserve  to  be  for  ever 
with  their  Redeemer.  Who 
with  thee,  liveth  and  reign- 
eth  for  ever.    Amen. 


FOUBTH    TUESDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


257 


TUESDAY 


OF  THE  FOURTH   WEEK  OF  ADVENT. 


The  Lord  is  now  nigh; 
come,  let  us  adore. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 

Ch.  XLII. 

Behold  my  servant,  I  will 
uphold  him  ;  my  elect,  my 
soul  delighteth  in  him ;  I 
have  given  my  Spirit  upon 
him,  he  shall  bring  forth 
judgment  to  the  Gentiles. 
He  shall  not  cry,  nor  have 
respect  to  person,  neither 
shall  his  voice  be  heard 
abroad.  The  bruised  reed 
he  shall  not  break,  and  the 
smoking  flax  he  shall  not 
quench :  he  shall  bring  forth 
judgment  unto  truth.  He 
shall  not  be  sad,  nor  trouble- 
some, till  he  set  judgment  in 
the  earth  :  and  the  islands 
shall  wait  for  his  law.  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  God  that 
created  the  heavens,  and 
stretched  them  out  :  that 
established  the  earth,  and 
the  things  that  spring  out  of 
it :  that  giveth  breath  to  the 
people  upon  it,  and  spirit  to 
them  that  tread  thereon.  I 
the  Lord  have  called  thee  in 
justice,  and  taken  thee  by  the 


Prope  est  jam  Dominus  ; 
venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 

Cap.  XLIL 

Ecce  servus  meus,  susei- 
piam  eum,  electus  meus  com- 
placuit  sibi  in  illo  anima 
mea  :  dedi  Spiritum  meum 
super  eum,  judicium  Gen- 
tibus  proferet.  Non  clama- 
bit,  neque  accipiet  personam, 
nee  audietur  vox  ejus  foris. 
Calamum  quassatum  non  con- 
teret,  et  linum  fumigans  non 
exstinguet :  in  veritate  educet 
judicium.  Non  erit  tristis, 
neque  turbulentus,  donee 
ponat  in  terra  judicium : 
et  legem  ejus  insulse  ex- 
spectabunt.  Hsec  dicit  Do- 
minus Deus  creans  ccelos, 
et  extendens  eos :  firmans 
terram,  et  quae  germinant  ex 
ea  :  dans  flatum  populo  qui 
est  super  earn,  et  spiritum 
calcantibus  earn.  Ego  Do- 
minus vocavi  te  in  justitia, 
et  apprehendi  manum  tuam, 
et  servavi  te.  Et  dedi  te  in 
foedus  populi,  in  lucem  Gen- 
tium :  ut  aperires  oculos 
csecorum,  et  educeres  de  con- 
S 


258  ADVENT. 

clusione  vinctum,  de  domo    hand,  and    preserved    thee. 

carceris  sedentes  in  tenebris.     And  I  have  given  thee  for  a 

covenant  of  the  people,  for 
a  light  of  the  Gentiles :  that 
-  thou  mightest  open  the 
eyes  of  the  blind,  and  bring 
forth  the  prisoner  out  of 
prison,  and  them  that  sit  in 
darkness  out  of  the  prison- 
house. 

How  sweet  and  peaceful  is  thy  entrance  into  this 
world,  O  Jesus  !  Thy  voice  is  not  heard  giving  its 
commands ;  and  thy  hands,  the  hands  of  a  yet  unborn 
babe,  seem  too  weak  to  break  the  reed,  so  frail, 
that  a  breath  would  break  it.  What  is  it  thou  art 
come  to  do  in  this  first  Coming  ?  Thy  heavenly 
Father  tells  it  us  by  the  Prophet.  Thou  art  coming 
that  thou  mayest  be  the  pledge  of  a  covenant  between 
heaven  and  earth.  O  divine  Infant !  Son  of  God, 
and  yet  Son  of  man,  blessed  be  thy  Coming  among 
us  !  Thy  crib  will  be  the  Ark  which  will  save  us ; 
and  when  thou  walkest  on  our  earth,  it  will  be  to 
give  us  light,  and  set  us  free  from  our  prison-house 
of  darkness.  It  is  just,  therefore,  that  we  should  rise 
and  meet  thee  on  thy  approach,  seeing  that  thou  hast 
come  all  this  way  to  us.  "  If  the  sick  man  cannot  go 
"  out  some  distance  to  meet  so  great  a  Physician,"  says 
St.  Bernard,  "  let  him,  at  least,  make  an  effort  to 
"  raise  his  head  and  turn  towards  him  as  he  enters. 
*  It  is  not  required  of  thee,  O  man  !  to  pass  the  seas, 
"  or  ascend  the  clouds,  or  cross  the  Alps.  The  way 
"  that  is  shown  unto  thee  is  not  a  long  one ;  go  as 
"  far  as  thy  own  self,  and  there  meet  thy  God :  for 
"  the  word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  thy  mouth,  and  in 
"  thy  heart.1  Meet  him  at  least  at  thy  heart's  com- 
"  punction,  and  thy  mouth's  confession,  that  thou 
"  mayest  at  least  go  out  of- the  filth  of  thy  guilty 

1  Rom.  x.  8. 


FOUETH  TUESDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


259 


"  cod  science,  for  into  that  thou  surely  never  wouldst 
"  make  the  author  of  purity  enter  I"1  Glory,  then, 
be  to  thee,  O  Jesus,  for  sparing  the  broken  reed,  that 
so  it  may  regain  its  verdure  and  strength  on  the 
banks  of  the  stream,  of  which  thou  art  the  source ! 
Glory  be  to  thee,  for  having  checked  the  breath  of 
thy  almighty  justice,  and  so  cherishing  the  last  spark 
left  in  the  smoking  flax,  that  it  might  burn  up 
again,  and  give  light  at  the  Bridegroom's  feast. 

HYMN  IN   HONOUR   OF   THE  BLESSED  VIRGIN. 


(Com, 


by  St.  Peter  Damian.) 


May  all  earth  and  heaven 
be  glad  and  resound  with 
the  praises  which,  in  this 
double  choir,  are  sung  to  the 
maternity  of  the  Virgin. 
.Yea,  this  Virgin,  Mother 
of  the  Word,  is  made  the 
Gate  of  heaven ;  she  gave 
God  to  the  world,  and,  by 
this,  opened  heaven  to  us. 

This  happy  Mother  of 
Jesus  conceived  him  without 
humiliation,  and  bore  him 
without  a  moan ;  such  a 
Mother  could  not  be  under 
the  law  put  on  Eve. 

O  that  rich  treasury  of 
Mary's  womb  !  it  held  the 
price  which  purchased  our 
redemption,  setting  us  free 
from  the  yoke  of  our  debt. 
O  happy  we  ! 

The  Son  <of  the  Eternal 
Father  dwelt  within  her ;  the 
Holy  Ghost  overshadowed 
her ;  what  is  such  a  Virgin's 
womb  but  a  new-made 
Heaven  ] 


Terrena  cuncta  jubilent, 
Astra  laudibus  intonent, 
Virginis  ante  thalamum, 
Laudes  alternent  dramatum. 

Hsec  Virgo  Verbo  gravida, 
Fit  paradisi  Janua ; 
Quse  Deum  mundo  reddidit, 
Caelum  nobis  aperuit. 

Felix  ista  Puerpera, 
Evse  lege  Uberrima, 
Concepit  sine  masculo, 
Peperit  absque  gemitu. 


Dives  Marise  gremium  ! 
Mundi  gestavit  pretium, 
Quo  gloriamur  redimi 
Soluti  jugo  debiti. 


Quam  Patris  implet  Filius, 
Sanctus  obumbrat  Spiritus 
Ccelum  fiunt  castissima 
Sacrse  puellse  viscera. 


1  First  Sermon  of  Advent. 


260 


ADVENT. 


Sit  tibi  laus,  Altissime, 
Qui  natus  es  ex  Virgine  ; 
Sit  honor  ineffabilis 
Patri,  Sanctoque  Flamini. 

Amen. 


To  thee,  Most  High,  who 
wast  born  of  the  Virgin,  be 
praise  !  Honor  ineffable  be 
to  the  Father,  and  to  the 
Holy  Spirit. 

Amen. 


PEAYER  FROM  T^E  GALLICAN  SACRAMENTARY. 

{In  Adventu  Domini,  Oratio  post  Prophetiam.) 


Opifex  lucis  alme,  plebis 
visitator  immeritse,  qui  ilia 
prophetalium  vaticiniorum 
oracula,  quae  saeculis  f  uerunt 
nuntiata,  beati  Joannis  ore 
exples,  opere  perficis,  profes- 
sione  peragis  ;  concede  plebi 
supplid  tibi  sine  formidine 
famulari <  ut  per  viscera  mi- 
sericordias  repleti  scientia, 
veritate  dirigi  mereamur. 


Benign  Creator  of  the 
light,  visiting  an  unworthy 
people  !  the  oracles  of  the 
prophetic  predictions,  which 
were  announced  in  the  past 
ages,  thou  didst  fulfil  by  the 
mouth  of  John,  thou  didst 
perfect  by  his  works,  thou 
didst  accomplish  by  his  mis- 
sion. Grant  to  thy  people, 
making  supplication  to  thee, 
to  serve  thee  without  fear  ; 
that,  through  the  boivels  of 
thy  mercy,  we,  being  filled 
with  knoivledge,  may  deserve 
to  be  directed  by  truth. 


FOURTH  WEDNESDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


261 


WEDNESDAY 

OF  THE  FOURTH  WEEK  OF  ADVENT. 


The  Lord  is  now  nigh ; 
come,  let  us  adore. 

From  the  Prophet  Isaias, 

Ck.  LI. 

Give  ear  to  me,  you  that 
follow  that  which  is  just,  and 
you  that  seek  the  Lord ; 
look  unto  the  rock  whence 
you  are  hewn,  and  to  the  hole 
of  the  pit  from  which  you 
are  dug  out  Look  unto 
Abraham  your  father,  and  to 
Sara  that  bore  you  ;  for  I 
called  him  alone,  and  blessed 
him,  and  multiplied  him. 
The  Lord  therefore  will  com- 
fort Sion,  and  will  comfort 
all  the  ruins  thereof,  and  he 
will  make  her  desert  as  a 
place  of  pleasure,  and  her 
wilderness  as  the  garden  of 
the  Lord.  Joy  and  gladness 
shall  be  found  therein, 
thanksgiving  and  the  voice 
of  praise.  Hearken  unto 
me,  O  my  people,  and  give 
ear  to  me,  O  my  tribes  :  for 
a  law  shall  go  forth  from  me, 
and  my  judgment  shall  rest 
to  be  a  light  of  the  nations. 
My  Just  One  is  near  at  hand, 
my  Saviour  is  gone  forth, 
and  my  arms  shall  judge  the 
people  :     the   islands   shall 


Prope   est  jam  Dominus ; 
venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Propheta. 

Cap.  LI. 

Audite  me,  qui  sequimini 
quod  justum  est,  et  queeritis 
Dominum  :  attendite  ad  pe- 
tram  unde  excisi  estis,  et  ad 
cavernam  laci,  de  qua  prse- 
cisi  estis.  Attendite  ad 
Abraham  patrem  vestrum, 
et  ad  Saram  quae  peperit 
vos  ;  quia  unum  vocavi  eum, 
et  benedixi  ei,  et  multipli- 
cavi  eum.  Oonsolabitur  ergo 
Dominus  Sion,  et  consola- 
bitur  omnes  ruinas  ejus,  et 
ponet  desertum  ejus  quasi 
delicias,  et  solitudinem  ejus 
quasi  hortum  Domini.  Gau- 
dium  et  laetitia  invenietur  in 
ea,  gratiarum  actio,  et  vox 
laudis.  Attendite  ad  me, 
popule  meus,  et  tribus  mea, 
me  audite  ;  quia  lex  a  me 
exiet,  et  judicium  meum  in 
lucem  populorum  requiescet. 
Prope  est  Justus  meus,  egres- 
sus  est  Salvator  meus,  et 
brachia  mea  populos  judica- 
bunt  :  me  insulae  exspecta- 
bunt,  et  brachium  meum 
sustinebunt.  Levate  in  cce- 
lum  oculos  vestros,  et  videte 


202  ADVENT. 

sub  terra  deorsum  :  quia  look  for  me,  and  shall 
coeli  sicut  fumus  liquescent,  patiently  wait  for  my  arm. 
et  terra  sicut  vestimentum  Lift  up  your  eyes  to  heaven, 
atteretur,  et  habitatores  ejus  and  look  down  to  the  earth 
sicut  haec  interibunt :  Salus  "beneath:  for  the  heavens 
autem  mea  in  sempiternum  shall  vanish  like  smoke,  and 
erit,  et  justitia  mea  non  de-  the  earth  shall  be  worn  away 
ficiet.    "  like  a  garment,  and  the  in- 

habitants thereof  shall  perish 
in  like  manner  :  but  my  sal- 
vation shall  be  for  ever,  and 
my  justice  shall  not  fail. 


O  Jesus,  thou  Flower  of  the  Field,  thou  Lily  of 
the  Valley,  thy  visit  is  to  change  our  barren  parched 
earth  into  a  garden  of  delights  !  We  had  lost  Eden 
and  all  its  lovely  magnificence,  by  our  sins  ;  and  lo  ! 
Eden  is  restored  to  us ;  thou  art  coming,  that  thou 
mayest  set  it  in  our  hearts.  O  heavenly  plant !  tree 
of  life,  transplanted  from  heaven  to  earth,  thou  first 
takest  root  in  Mary,  that  faithful  soil ;  and  thence 
thou  wilt  come  to  us,  and  we  must  be  to  thee  a  grate- 
ful land,  cherishing  the  divine  seed  and  making  it 
fructify.  Let  it  be  so,  O  divine  Husbandman  !  who 
didst  appear  to  Magdalene  under  the  form  of  a  gar- 
dener. Thou  knowest  how  far  are  our  hearts  from  be- 
ing ready  for  thy  working  in  them.  Move,  and  break, 
and  water  this  land;  the  season  is  come;  our  hearts 
long  to  be  fertile,  and  to  have  growing  within  them 
that  exquisite  Flower  which  makes  the  beauty  of  all 
heaven,  and  comes  down  to  hide  its  splendour  for  a 
time  here  below.  O  Jesus  !  let  these  souls  of  ours 
be  fertile  ;  let  them  be  crowned  with  the  flowers  of 
virtue;  let  themselves  become  flowers  growing 
around  thee,  O  divine  Flower,  and  forming  to  the 
heavenly  Father  a  garden,  which  he  may  unite  with 
that  which  he  formed  from  all  eternity.  O  Flower 
of  heaven,  Jesus !  thou  art  also  the  Dew.  refresh  us ; 
thou  art  the  Sun,  warm  us ;  thou  art  the  fragrant 
Perfume,  impart  to  us  thy  sweetness;  thou  art  the 


FOUETH  WEDNESDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


263 


sovereign  Beauty,  give  us  of  thy  fair  and  ruddy 
bloom,  and  make  us  cluster  round  thee  in  eternity, 
as  the  crown  thou  didst  wreathe  to  thyself. 

HYMN   OF  PREPARATION   FOR  CHRISTMAS. 


{Composed  by  St.  Ambrose.  It  is  in  the  Ambrosian  Breviary 
for  first  Vespers  of  Christmas,  and  in  the  ancient  Roman- 
French  Breviaries?) 


Come,  0  Redeemer  of 
mankind  !  reveal  to  us  the 
Virgin's  delivery :  let  all 
ages  be  in  admiration  :  for 
what  other  birth  would  have 
been  worthy  of  God  % 

Not  of  man,  but  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  was  the  Word 
of  God  made  flesh,  and  the 
fruit  of  the  womb  ripened. 

The  Virgin  has  become 
Mother,  and  yet  the  Mother 
is  still  a  Virgin.  It  is  the 
banner  of  omnipotence  which 
here  shines ;  God  is  come 
into  his  temple. 

He  comes  forth  from  the 
royal  palace  of  virginity,  as 
from  his  bride-chamber,  that 
he  may  exultingly  run  the 
way,  as  a  Giant,  who  is 
both  God  and  Man. 

He  comes  forth  from  the 
Father ;  he  returns  to  the 
Father :  he  descends  into 
hell ;  he  ascends  to  the 
throne  of  God. 

Co-equal  Son  of  the  eter- 
nal Father,  gird  thee  with 
the  trophy  of  the  flesh ; 
strengthening  the  weaknesses 
of  our  flesh  by  thy  unfailing 
power. 

Thy  crib  is  already  re- 
splendent,   and    the    night 


Veni,  Redemptor  gentium, 
Ostende  partum  Virginis  ; 
Miretur  omne  sseculum, 
Talis  decet  partus  Deum. 


Non  ex  virili  semine, 
Sed  mystico  spiramine, 
Verbum  Dei  factus  est  caro 
Fructusque  ventris  floruit. 

Alvus  tumescit  Virginis, 
Claustra  pudoris  permanent, 
Vexilla  virtutum  micant, 
Versatur  in  templo  Deus. 


Procedit  e  thalamo  suo, 
Pudoris  aula  regia, 
Gemmae  gigas  substantias, 
Alacris  ut  currat  viam. 


Egressus  ejus  a  Patre, 
Regressus  ejus  ad  Patrem  ; 
Excursus  usque  ad  inferos, 
Recursus  ad  sedem  Dei. 

iEqualis  seterno  Patri, 
Carnis  trophseo  cingere  ; 
Infirma  nostri  corporis^ 
Virtute  flrmans  perpeti 


Prsesepe  jam  fulget  tuum, 
Lumenque  nox  spirat  novum, 


264* 


ADVENT. 


Quod  nulla  nox  interpolet, 
Fideque  jugi  luceat. 


Gloria  tibi,  Domine, 
Qui  natus  es  de  Virgine, 
Cum  Patre  et  Sancto  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  saecula. 

Amen. 


breathes  forth  a  new  light, 
the  light  of  faith ;  let  no 
night  interrupt  it,  let  its 
brightness  be  incessant. 

Glory  be  to  thee,  O  Lord, 
who  wast  born  of  the  Virgin  ! 
and  to  the  Father  and  the 
Holy  Ghost,  for  everlasting 


Amen. 


PRAYER  FROM  THE  MOZARABIC  MISSAL. 


{Second  Sunday  of  Advent?) 


Domine  Deus  omnipotens, 
qui  pro  humani  generis  re- 
demptione  coseternum.  tibi 
cosequalemque  Filium  An- 
geli  annuntiatione  per  Ma- 
rise  Virginis  uterum  usque 
ad  nos  voluisti  transmittere  ; 
da  nobis  hoc  tempore  Ad- 
ventus  tui  Unigeniti  eamdem 
pacis  gratiam,  quam  in  prae- 
terita  largire  dignatus  es 
saecula,  et  illi  nos  in  occur- 
sum  fidei  socios  numerandos, 
quos  in  fidei  primordia  a 
Joanne  poenitentise  undis 
aquarum  ablutos,  a  te  pos- 
tremo  per  Filium  in  Spiritu 
Sancto  et  igni  cognoscimus 
baptizatos. 


Lord  God  omnipotent ! 
who,  for  the  redemption  of 
the  human  race,  didst  deign 
to  send  even  unto  us,  by  the 
message  of  an  Angel  and  by 
the  Virgin  Mary's  womb,  thy 
co-eternal  and  co-equal  Son  ; 
grant  us,  in  this  time  of  the 
Advent  of  thy  Only  Son, 
that  same  grace  of  peace 
which  thou  hast  mercifully 
bestowed  upon  the  past  ages, 
and  number  us  among  those 
who,  at  the  first  beginning 
of  the  faith,  were  accept- 
able to  him  by  embracing 
the  faith  ;  and  who,  being 
washed  in  the  water  of 
penance  by  John,  were  after- 
wards baptised  by  thee, 
through  thy  Son,  in  the 
Holy  Ghost  and  fire. 


FOURTH  THURSDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


265 


THURSDAY 

OF  THE  FOURTH  WEEK  OF  ADVENT. 


The    Lord    is   now  nigh ;        Prope  est  jam  Dominus 
come,  let  ns  adore.  venite,  adoremus. 


From  the  Prophet  Isaias. 

Ch.  LXIV. 

O  that  thou  wouldst  rend 
the  heavens,  and  wouldst 
come  down  ;  the  mountains 
would  melt  away  at  thy  pre- 
sence ;  they  would  melt  as 
at  the  burning  of  tire  ;  the 
waters  would  burn  with  fire  ; 
that  thy  name  might  be 
made  known  to  thy  enemies  : 
that  the  nations  might 
tremble  at  thy  presence. 
When  thou  shalt  do  wonder- 
ful things,  we  shall  not  bear 
them :  thou  didst  come  clown, 
and  at  thy  presence  the 
mountains  melted  away. 
From  the  beginning  of  the 
world  they  have  not  heard, 
nor  perceived  with  the  ears  : 
the  eye  hath  not  seen,  O 
God,  besides  thee,  what 
things  thou  hast  prepared 
for  them  that  wait  for  thee. 
Thou  hast  met  him  that  re- 
joiceth,  and  doth  justice  :  in 
thy  ways  they  shall  remem- 
ber thee  :  behold  thou  art 
angry,  and  we  have  sinned  ; 
in  them  we  have  been 
always,  and  we  shall  be 
saved.     And  we  are  all  be- 


De  Isaia  Propheta. 
Cap.  LXIV. 
Utinam  dirumperes  ccelos, 
et  descenderes  ;  a  facie  tua 
montes  defluerent  ;  sicut 
exustio  ignis  tabescerent  : 
aquae  arderent  igni,  ut  notum 
fieret  nomeii  tuum  inimicis 
tuis  ;  a  facie  tua  Gentes  tur- 
barentur.  Quum  feceris 
mirabilia,  non  sustinebimus  : 
descendisti,  et  a  facie  tua 
montes  defluxerunt.  A  sse- 
culo  non  audierunt,  neque 
auribus  perceperunt :  oculus 
non  vidit,  Deus,  absque  te, 
quse  prseparasti  exspectanti- 
bus  te.  Occurristi  lastanti, 
et  facienti  justitiam  :  in  viis 
tuis  recordabuntur  tui  :  ecce 
tu  iratus  es,  et  peccavimus  ; 
in  ipsis  fuimus  semper,  et 
salvabimur.  Et  facti  sumus 
ut  immundus  omnes  nos,  et 
quasi  pannus  menstruatae 
universes  justitise  nostrse  :  et 
cecidimus  quasi  folium  uni- 
versi,  et  iniquitates  nostrse 
quasi  ventus  abstulerunt  nos. 
Non  est  qui  invocet  nomen 
tuum,  qui  consurgat,  et 
teneat  te  :  abscondisti  faciem 
tuam  a  nobis,  et  allisisti  nos 


2  06  ADVENT. 

in  maim  iniquitatis  nostras,  come  as  one  unclean,  and  all 
Et  nunc,  Domine,  pater  nos-  our  justices  as  the  rag  of  a 
ter  es  tu,  nos  vero  lutum  :  et  menstruous  woman  :  and  we 
fictor  noster  tu,  et  opera  have  fallen  as  a  leaf,  and  our 
manuum  tuarum  omnes  nos.  iniquities,  like  the  wind, 
Ne  irascaris,  Domine,  satis,  have  taken  us  away.  There 
et  ne  ultra  memineris  ini-  is  none  that  calleth  upon  thy 
quitatis  nostras:  ecce  respice,  name,  that  riseth  up  and 
populus  tuus  omnes  nos.  taketh  hold  of  thee  :  thou 
Civitas  sancti  tui  facta  est  hast  hid  thy  face  from  us, 
deserta,  Sion  deserta  facta  est,  and  hast  crushed  us  in  the 
Jerusalem  desolata  est.  Do-  hand  of  our  iniquity.  And 
mus  sanctificationis  nostras,  now,  0  Lord,  thou  art  our 
et  glorias  nostras,  ubi  lauda-  Father,  and  we  are  clay  : 
verunt  te  patres  nostri,  facta  and  thou  art  our  maker,  and 
est  in  exustionem  ignis  :  et  we  all  are  the  works  of  thy 
omnia  desiderabilia  nostra  hands.  Be  not  very  angry, 
versa  sunt  in  ruinas.  O   Lord,  and  remember  no 

longer  our  iniquity  :  behold, 
see,  we  are  all  thy  people. 
The  city  of  thy  sanctuary  is 
become  a  desert,  Sion  is 
made  a  desert,  Jerusalem  is 
desolate.  The  house  of  our 
holiness,  and  of  our  glory, 
where  our  fathers  praised 
thee,  is  burnt  with  fire,  and 
all  our  lovely  things  are 
turned  into  ruins. 

0  God  of  our  Fathers  !  delay  not,  but  show  thyself 
unto  us.  The  city,  which  thou  lovest,  is  desolate  ; 
come  and  raise  up  Jerusalem  ;  avenge  the  glory  of 
her  temple.  This  was  the  cry  of  the  Prophet ;  thou 
hast  heard  it,  and  art  come  to  deliver  Sion  from  her 
captivity,  giving  her  a  new  era  of  glory  and  holiness. 
Thou  art  come,  not  to  destroy  but  to  fulfil  the  law ; 
and,  by  thy  visit,  Sion  has  been  changed  into  the 
Church,  thy  Spouse.  But  why,  0  thou  her  Beloved 
Saviour  !  why  hast  thou  turned  away  thy  face  ? 
Why  is  this  Church  of  thy  love  left  in  the  wilder- 
ness, weeping  like  Jeremias  over  the  ruins  of  the 
Sanctuary,  and  as  Rachel  over  her  children  that  had 
been  taken  from   her?     Why  has  her  inheritance 


FOUKTH  THUESDAY  OF  ADVENT.     267 

been  delivered  to  the  stranger  ?  By  thy  power,  she 
had  become  the  mother  of  countless  children ;  she 
had  nourished  them ;  she  had  taught  them,  in  thy 
name,  the  things  that  pertain  to  the  present  and  the 
future  life ;  and  these  ungrateful  children  have  turned 
against  her.  She  has  been  driven  from  nation  to 
nation,  bearing  away  with  her  the  heavenly  treasure 
of  Faith  ;  her  mysteries  have  ceased  to  be  celebrated 
where  once  they  were  the  glory  and  happiness  of  the 
people ;  and  from  thy  throne  above,  O  divine  Word, 
Creator  of  the  universe,  thou  seest  everywhere 
throughout  the  earth  altars  overturned,  and  temples 
profaned.  Oh!  come,  then,  and  rekindle  the  smoul- 
dering fire  of  Faith. 

Remember  thy  Apostles  and  thy  Martyrs ;  re- 
member thy  Saints  who  have  founded  Churches,  and 
honoured  them  by  their  virtues  and  miracles ;  re- 
member thy  Spouse  the  Church,  and  support  her 
during  her  earthly  pilgrimage,  until  the  number  of 
thy  elect  is  filled  up.  She  longs  to  possess  thee  in 
the  eternal  light  of  the  vision  ;  but  thou  hast  given 
her  a  heart  with  such  mother's  love,  that  she  will  not 
leave  her  children  as  long  as  there  be  one  to  save, 
nor  cease  to  save  until  that  day  come  when  there 
shall  no  more  be  a  Militant  Church,  but  the  one  sole 
Triumphant  Church,  inebriated  with  the  enjoyment 
of  the  sight  and  embraces  of  her  God.  But  that  last 
day  is  not  yet  come,  0  Jesus !  there  is  yet  time  for 
thee  to  descend  from  heaven  and  visit  thy  vineyard. 
Restore  to  the  branches  of  the  tree  the  leaves  which 
had  fallen  in  the  storm  of  iniquity.  Let  this  tree  of 
thy  predilection  bud  forth  new  branches ;  and  the 
old  ones,  v/hich  had  separated  from  it,  and  seemed 
to  force  thy  justice  to  cast  them  in  the  fire,  let  them 
be  once  more  grafted  to  the  parent  trunk,  so  torn  by 
their  rupture  from  her.  Come,  O  Jesus,  for  the  sake 
of  thy  Church ;  she  is  dearer  to  thee  than  was  the 
Jerusalem  of  old. 


268 


ADVENT. 


HYMN  TAKEN  FKOM  THE  ANTHOLOGY  OF  THE  GREEKS. 

{December  the  21st.) 


Acervus  areae  uterus  tu- 
us,  Dei  Mater,  dignoscitur  ; 
spicam  inexcultam,  omnem 
sensum  superantem,  Ver- 
bum  ferens  ineffabiliter  ; 
quod  in  spelunca  Bethlehem 
paries,  eum  qui  omnem 
creaturam  divina  agnitione 
aliturus  est  in  charitate,  et 
a  fame  lethifera  humanum 
genus  liberaturus. 


Innupta  Virgo,  unde  ve- 
nis  1  Quis  te  genuif?  Qua3 
mater  tua  1  Quomodo  Crea- 
torem  fers  in  brachiis  1  Quo- 
modo non  corrupta  fuisti 
utero  1  Magnas  in  te  gratias, 
in  terra  stupenda  adimpleta 
cernimus  mysteria,  6  Om- 
nisancta.  Prout  decet  spe- 
luncam  adornamus,  et  a 
coelo  petimus  sidus ;  Magi 
progrediuntur  ab  oriente 
orbis  usque  ad  occidentem, 
Salutem  visuri  mortalium, 
tuis  in  brachiis  sicut  facem 
prselucentem. 

Lucidum  Magistri  pala- 
tium,  quomodo  venis  in 
exiguissimam  speluncam, 
Regem  paritura  Dominum, 
Omnisancta,  Virgo  Dei 
sponsa. 

Eva  quidem  per  inobe- 
dientise  nocumentum  exse- 
crationem  subintroduxit ;  tu 
autem,  Virgo  Dei  Mater,  per 
tuae  gestationis  germinatio- 


Thy  womb,  O  Mother  of 
God,  is  the  heap  of  wheat  of 
the  Canticle ;  carrying,  in  an 
ineffable  manner,  the  ear  of 
corn,  which,  like  no  other, 
grew  without  being  sown  ; 
thy  Child  is  the  Word,  and 
thou  wilt  give  him  birth  in 
Bethlehem's  cave  :  he  it  is 
will  lovingly  feed  every  crea- 
ture with  the  knowledge  of 
God,  and  free  the  human  race 
from  deadly  hunger. 

Whence  comest  thou,  O 
p  ure  Virgin  1  Thy  father  and 
mother,  who  are  they  1  How 
dost  thou  carry  thy  Creator 
in  thy  arms]  Mother,  and 
yet  a  Virgin !  These  are 
great  graces,  and  stupendous 
mysteries,  which  have  been 
done  in  thee,  all-holy  Crea- 
ture !  We  adorn  the  Cave  as 
it  behoves  us,  and  we  look 
for  the  star  in  the  heavens  ; 
the  Magi  are  coming  from  the 
east  to  our  western  world  to 
see  the  Saviour  of  men,  shin- 
ing in  thy  arms  as  a  bright 
torch. 

O  Mary  !  fair  palace  of 
our  Master,  how  is  it  thou 
art  come  into  so  poor  a  Cave, 
there  to  give  birth  to  the 
King  our  Lord,  O  all-holy 
Virgin,  Spouse  of  God. 

Eve,  indeed,  by  the  crime 
of  disobedience  brought  a 
curse  into  the  world  :  but 
thou,  Virgin-Mother  of  God, 
by  the  flower  thou  bearest, 


FOURTH  THURSDAY  OF  ADVENT. 


269 


hast  made  blessing  bloom  in 
the  world  ;  therefore  do  we 
all  magnify  thee. 

The  Mother  of  God,  when 
the  birth  of  Christ  was  near, 
spoke  thns  to  her  Spouse: 
Be  not  sad,  Joseph,  finding 
that  I  am  Mother  ;  for  thou 
shalt  see  Him  who  is  to  be 
born  of  me,  and  thou  shalt 
rejoice  and  adore  him  as  thy 
God.  Let  us  commemorate 
this  divine  Mother,  saying  : 
Be  glad,  O  full  of  Grace  ! 
the  Lord  is  with  thee,  and 
with  us  by  thee. 


nem  mundo  florere  fecisti 
benedictionem  ;  unde  omnes 
te  magnificamus. 

Ne  contristeris,  Joseph, 
meum  intuens  uterum ;  vi- 
debis  enim  qui  ex  me  nas- 
citurus  est  atque  gaudebis, 
eumque  sicut  Deum  ado- 
rabis,  aiebat  Dei  Mater  suo 
sponso,  dum  Christum  pa- 
ritura  veniret.  Illam  com- 
memoremus  dicentes  :  Gau- 
de,  gratia  plena,  Dominus 
tecum,  et  per  te  nobiscum. 


PRAYER  FROM   THE  AMBROSIAN   MISSAL. 


{In  the  3fass  of  the  First  Sunday  of  Advent.) 


O  God,  who,  by  thine  Only 
Begotten  Son,  hast  made  us 
to  be  a  new  creature  unto 
thyself,  mercifully  look  on 
the  works  which  thy  mercy 
has  produced,  and  cleanse  us, 
in  the  Coming  of  thy  Son, 
from  all  the  stains  of  our  old 
habits.  Through  the  same 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 


Deus,  qui  Unigenito  tuo 
novam  creaturam  nos  tibi 
esse  fecisti,  respice  propitius 
in  opera  misericordise  tuae, 
et  in  ejus  Adventu  ab  om- 
nibus nos  maculis  vetustatis 
emunda.  Per  eumdem  Chris- 
tum Dominum  nostrum. 
Amen. 


270 


ADVENT. 


FKIDAY 

OF  THE  FOURTH  WEEK  OF  ADVENT. 


Prope  est  jam  Dominus ; 
venite,  adoremus. 

De  Isaia  Proplieta. 

Gap.LXVI. 

Audite  verbum  Domini, 
qui  tremitis  ad  verbum  ejus. 
Dixerunt  fratres  vestri 
odientes  vos,  et  abjicientes 
propter  nomen  meum  :  Glo- 
rificetur  Dominus,  et  vide- 
bimus  in  lsetitia  vestra  :  ipsi 
autem  confundentur.  Vox 
populi  de  civitate,  vox  de 
templo,  vox  Domini  red- 
dentis  retributionem  inimi- 
cis  suis.  Antequam  partu- 
riret,  peperit :  antequam  ve- 
nerit  partus  ejus,  peperit 
masculum.  Quis  audivit 
unquam  tale  1  Et  quis  vidit 
huic  simile  ]  Numquid  par- 
turiet  terra  in  die  una  1  aut 
parietur  gens  simul,  quia 
parturivit  et  peperit  Sion 
filios  suos]  Numquid  ego 
qui  alios  parere  facio,  ipse 
non  pariam,  dicit  Dominus  ] 
Si  ego,  qui  generationem 
casteris  tribuo,  sterilis  ero, 
ait  Dominus  Deus  tuus  1 
Lsetamini  cum  Jerusalem,  et 
exsultate  in  ea,  omnes  qui 
diligitis  earn  :  gaudete  cum 
ea  gaudio  universi,  qui  lu- 


The  Lord  is  now   nigh  ; 
come,  let  us  adore. 

From  the  Prophet  Tsaias. 

Ch.  LXYI. 

Hear  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
you  that  tremble  at  his  word. 
Your  brethren  that  hate  you, 
and  cast  you  out  for  my 
name's  sake,  have  said  :  Let 
the  Lord  be  glorified,  and 
we  shall  see  in  your  joy  :  but 
they  shall  be  confounded.  A 
voice  of  the  people  from  the 
city,  a  voice  from  the  temple, 
the  voice  of  the  Lord  that 
rendereth  recompense  to  his 
enemies.  Before  she  was  in 
labour,  she  brought  forth : 
before  her  time  came  to  be 
delivered,  she  brought  forth 
a  man-child.  Who  hath  ever 
heard  such  a  thing'?  And 
who  hath  seen  the  like  of 
this  %  Shall  the  earth  bring 
forth  in  one  day  1  or  shall  a 
nation  be  brought  forth  at 
once,  because  Sion  hath  been 
in  labour,  and  hath  brought 
forth  her  children?  Shall 
not  I  that  make  others  to 
bring  forth  children,  myself 
bring  forth,  saith  the  Lord  ? 
Shall  I,  that  give  generation 
to  others,  be  barren,  saith 


FOURTH   FRIDAY   OF   ADVENT. 


271 


the  Lord  thy  God  1  Eejoice 
with  Jerusalem,  and  be  glad 
with  her,  all  you  that  love 
her  :  rejoice  for  joy  with  her, 
all  you  that  mourn  for  her  : 
that  you  may  suck  and  be 
filled  with  the  breasts  of  her 
consolations  :  that  you  may 
milk  out  and  flow  with  de- 
lights, from  the  abundance  of 
her  glory.  For  thus  saith  the 
Lord:  Behold  I  will  bring 
upon  her  as  it  were  a  river  of 
peace,  and  as  an  overflowing 
torrent  the  glory  of  the  Gen- 
tiles, which  you  shall  suck  : 
you  shall  be  carried  at  the 
breasts,  and  upon  the  knees 
they  shall  caress  you.  As 
one  whom  the  mother  caress- 
eth,  so  will  I  comfort  you, 
and  you  shall  be  comforted 
in  Jerusalem.  You  shall  see, 
and  your  heart  shall  rejoice, 
and  your  bones  shall  flourish 
like  an  herb,  and  the  hand  of 
the  Lord  shall  be  known  to 
his  servants,  and  he  shall  be 
angry  with  his  enemies.  For 
behold  the  Lord  will  come 
with  fire,  and  his  chariots  are 
like  a  whirlwind  :  to  render 
his  wrath  in  indignation,  and 
his  rebuke  with  flames  of 
fire  :  for  the  Lord  shall  judge 
by  fire  :  and  by  his  sword 
unto  all  flesh,  and  the  slain 
of  the  Lord  shall  be  many. 


getis  super  earn  :  ut  sugatis 
et  repleamini  ab  ubere  con- 
solationis  ejus  :  ut  mulgea- 
tis,  et  deliciis  affluatis  ab 
ornnimoda  gloria  ejus.  Quia 
haec  dicit  Dominus  :  Ecce 
ego  declinabo  super  earn 
quasi  fluvium  pacis,  et 
quasi  torrentem  inundantem 
gloriam  Gentium,  quam 
sugetis  :  ad  ubera  portabi- 
mini,  et  super  genua  blan- 
dientur  vobis.  Quomodo  si 
cui  mater  blandiatur,  ita  ego 
consolabor  vos,  et  in  Jerusa- 
lem consolabimini.  Vide- 
bitis,  et  gaudebit  cor  ves- 
trum,  et  ossa  vestra  quasi 
herba  germinabunt :  et  cog- 
noscetur  manus  Domini 
servis  ejus,  et  indignabitur 
inimicis  suis.  Quia  ecce 
Dominus  in  igne  veniet,  et 
quasi  turbo  quadrigae  ejus  : 
reddere  in  indignatione  fu- 
rorem  suum,  et  increpatio- 
nem  suam  in  flamma  ignis  : 
quia  in  igne  Dominus  dijudi- 
cabit  :  et  in  gladio  suo  ad 
omnem  carnem,  et  multipli- 
cabimtur  interfecti  a  Do- 
mino. 


Thy  presence,  O  Jesus,  will  give  fruitfulness  to 
her  that  was  barren,  and  the  despised  Sion  shall  sud- 
denly bring  forth  a  people  which  the  world  is  too 
small  to  hold.  But  all  the  glory  of  this  fruitfulness 
belongs  to  thee,  O  divine  Word  !  The  Psalmist  had 
foretold   it,  when    speaking   to   Jerusalem,  as  to  a 


272  ADVENT. 

Queen,  he  said  to  her  :  Instead  of  thy  fathers,  sons 
are  born  to  thee  ;  thou  shalt  make  them  princes  over 
all  the  earth :  they  shall  remember  thy  name  through- 
out all  generations;  therefore  shall  people  praise  thee 
for  ever  and  ever,  yea  for  ever  and  ever.1  But,  for 
this  end  it  was  necessary  that  God  himself  should  come 
down  in  person.  He  alone  could  make  a  Yirgin- 
Mother;  he  alone  could  raise  up  children  to  Abraham 
out  of  the  very  stones.  Yet  one  little  while,  as  he 
says  by  one  of  his  Prophets,  and  I  will  "move  heaven 
and  earth,  and  I  tvill  move  all  nations.2  And  by 
another :  From  the  rising  of  the  sun  even  to  the  going 
down,  my  name  is  great  among  the  Gentiles  ;  and 
in  every  place  there  is  sacrifice,  and  there  is  offered 
to  my  name  a  clean  oblation?  There  will  soon  be, 
then,  but  one  Sacrifice  ;  for  the  Lamb,  who  is  to  be 
offered  in  that  Sacrifice,  will  be  born  in  a  few  hours 
hence;  and  since  Sacrifice  is  the  bond  of  union 
among  men,  when  there  shall  be  but  one  Sacrifice, 
there  will  be  but  one  People. 

Come  then  quickly,  O  Church  of  God,  that  art  to 
unite  us  all  into  one;  come  and  be  born  into  our 
world.  And  since  for  us  thy  children  thou  art  already 
born,  may  the  Lamb,  thy  Spouse,  pour  out  upon  thee 
the  river  of  peace  announced  by  the  Prophet ;  may 
he  open  out  upon  thee  the  glory  of  the  Gentiles,  as 
an  overflowing  torrent;  may  the  nations  cluster 
round  thee  as  their  common  Mother,  and  be  filled 
with  the  abundance  of  thy  glory,  with  the  breasts  of 
thy  consolations  ;  and  thou  carry  them  on  thy  heart 
and  caress  them  in  thy  tender  love.  O  Jesus!  it  is 
thou  that  hast  inspired  our  Mother  with  this  won- 
derful love ;  it  is  thou  that  consolest  us,  and  en- 
lightenest  us,  by  her.  Come  to  her  and  visit  her; 
come,  and,  by  the  New  Birth  thou  art  about  to  take 
among  us,  renew  her  life  within  her.  Give  her, 
during  this  year  also,  firmness  of  Faith,  the  Grace  of 

1  Ps.  xliv.  2  Agg.  ii.  7,  8.  3  Mai.  ill. 


FOURTH  FRIDAY   OF  ADVENT. 


273 


the  Sacraments,  the  efficacy  of  Prayer,  the  Gift  of 
Miracles,  the  Succession  of  her  Hierarchy,  power  of 
Government,  Fortitude  against  the  Princes  of  the 
world,  love  of  the  Cross,  victory  over  Satan,  and  the 
crown  of  Martyrdom.  During  this  new  year,  make 
her,  as  ever,  thy  beautiful  Spouse ;  make  her  faith- 
ful to  thy  love,  and  more  than  ever  successful  in  the 
great  work  thou  hast  put  upon  her  ;  for  each  year 
brings  us  nearer  to  the  day  when  thou  wilt  come  for 
the  last  time,  not  in  the  swathing  bands  of  infancy, 
but  on  a  cloud,  with  great  majesty,  to  render  thy  re- 
buke with  flames  of  fire,  and  destroy  those  that  have 
despised  or  have  not  loved  thy  Church,  which  thou 
wilt  then  raise  up  and  admit  into  thy  eternal  King- 
dom. 


HYMN  OF   THE  BIRTH   OF   CHRIST. 
(Taken  from  the  Poet  Prudentius.    vni.  kal.  januarias.) 


Come  forth,  sweet  Babe  ! 
Child  of  Chastity,  Child  of  a 
Virgin  Mother  !  Come,  O 
thou  our  Mediator,  Man  and 
God. 

Though  thou  didst  come, 
in  time,  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Most  High  Father,  and 
becamest  incarnate  at  the 
Angel's  word;  yet  hadst  thou, 
O  eternal  Wisdom,  dwelt  for 
ever  in  the  bosom  of  thy 
Father. 

This  eternal  Wisdom  ma- 
nifested itself  when  it  made 
heaven,  light,  and  the  other 
creatures  ;  by  the  power  of 
the  Word  were  all  these 
made,  for  the  Word  is  God. 

But  having  thus  created 
the  world,  and  fixed  the  laws 
of  the  universe,  this  creator 
and  maker  still  left  not  his 
Father's  bosom. 


Emerge,  dulcis  Pusio, 
Quern  Mater  edit  castitas, 
Parens  et  expers  conjugis, 
Mediator,  et  duplex  genus. 

Ex  ore  quamlibet  Patris 
Sis  ortus,  et  verbo  editus, 
Tamen  paterno  inpectore 
Sophia  callebas  prius. 


Quse  prompta  ccelum  con- 
didit, 
Ccelum,  diemque  et  caetera, 
Virtute  Verbi  effecta  sunt 
Hsec  cuncta  :  nam  Verbum 
Deus. 

Sed  ordinatis  sseculis, 
Rerumque  digesto  statu, 
Fundator  ipse  et  artifex 
Permansit  in  Patris  sinu. 


274 


ADVENT. 


Donee  rotata  annalium 
Transvolverentur  millia, 
Atque  ipse  peccantem  din 
Dignatus  orbem  viseret. 

Nam  caeca  vis  mortalium 
Venerans  inanes  naenias, 
Vel  asra,  vel  saxa  algida, 
Vel  igna  credebat  Deum. 

Hsec  dum  sequuntur,  per- 
fidi 
Prsedonis  in  jns  venerant, 
Et  mancipatam  fumido 
Vitam  barathro  immerserant. 

Stragem  sedistam  non  tulit 
Christus  cadentum  gentinm 
Impune  ;  ne  forsan  sui 
Patris  periret  fabrica. 

Mortale  corpus  induit, 
Ut,  excitato  corpore, 
Mortis  catenam  frangeret, 
Hominemque  portaret  Patri. 


Sentisne,  Virgo  nobilis, 
Matura  per  fastidia, 
Pudoris  intactum  decus 
Honore  partus  crescere  1 


O  quanta  rerum  gaudia 
Alvus  pudica  continet  ! 
Ex  qua  novellum  sseculum 
Procedit  et  lux  aurea. 


Until  at  length  thousands 
of  years  rolled  on,  and  then 
he  deigned  to  visit  the  world 
grown  old  in  sin. 

For  man,  blinded  with 
passion,  paid  adoration  to 
empty  vanities,  and  believed 
that  brass,  or  stiff  blocks  of 
stone  and  wood,  were  God. 

Abandoned  to  idolatry, 
they  became  the  slaves  of 
the  treacherous  enemy,  and 
plunged  their  enslaved  souls 
into  dark  abyss. 

But  the  Son  of  God  com- 
passionated this  destruction 
of  his  fallen  creatures  ;  for  it 
was  the  ruin  of  his  Father's 
image. 

He  took  to  himself  a  mor- 
tal body,  that  by  the  resur- 
rection of  that  body  he  might 
break  the  chain  of  death, 
and  raise  up  man  to  his 
Father. 

Thouforebodest'his  suffer- 
ings, O  noble  Virgin !  and 
yet  to  give  birth  to  this  thy 
Son  is  an  honour  which  adds 
fresh  lustre  to  thy  spotless 
purity. 

O  that  Virgin  Mother, 
what  j  oy  for  the  world  does 
she  not  contain  within  her  ! 
a  new  age,  a  golden  light, 
will  come  by  her  ! 


PRAYER  FROM  THE  GALLICAN  SACRAMENTART. 

(In  Adventu  Domini,  Contestatio.) 


Vere  dignum  et  justum  est, 
nos  tibi  hie  et  ubique  semper 
gratias  agere,  omnipotens 
I)eus,  per  Christum  Domi- 
num  nostrum,  quern  Joannes 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just 
that  we  should  here  and  in  all 
places  ever  give  thee  thanks, 
O  almighty  God,  through 
Christ   our  Lord,  of  whom 


FOURTH   FRIDAY   OF  ADVENT. 


275 


John,  the  faithful  friend,  was 
the  precursor  in  birth,  the  pre- 
cursor in  preaching  in  the 
wilderness,  the  precursor  in 
baptism,  preparing  thus  the 
way  to  the  Judge  and  Re- 
deemer. He  called  sinners  to 
repentance  ;  and  purchasing 
a  people  for  the  Saviour,  he 
baptised  in  the  Jordan  them 
that  confessed  their  sins.  He 
conferred  not  the  full  grace 
which  regenerates  man,  but 
taught  him  to  look  for  the 
Coming  of  the  most  merciful 
Saviour.  He  remitted  not 
the  sins  of  them  that  came 
unto  him,  but  he  promised 
the  future  remission  of  sins 
to  believers  ;  that  thus  they, 
who  went  down  into  the 
waters  of  penance,  might 
hope  for  a  merciful  cure  and 
forgiveness  from  Him,  who, 
they  were  told,  was  to  come 
full  of  the  gift  of  Truth  and 
Grace,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 


fidelis  amicus,  praecessit  nas- 
cendo,  prsecessit  in  desertis 
eremi  prsedicando,  prsecessit 
baptizando,  viam  quoque 
praeparans  Judici  ac  Re- 
demptori.  Convocavit  pec- 
catores  ad  poenitentiam  ;  et 
populum  Salvatori  acquirens, 
baptizavit  in  Jordanepeccata 
propria  confitentes  :  non  ho- 
minis  innovandi  plenam  con- 
ferens  gratiam,  sed  piissimi 
Salvatoris  admonens  exspec- 
tare  praesentiani  :  non  remit- 
tens  ipse  peccata  ad  se  ve- 
nientibus,  sed  remissionem 
peccatorum  ad  futurum  pol- 
licens  esse  credentibus  :  ut 
descendentes  in  aquam  pceni- 
tentiae  ab  illo  sperarent  reme- 
dium  indulgentias,  quern  ven- 
turum  audiebant  plenum 
dono  Veritatis  et  Gratiae, 
Dominum  nostrum  Jesum 
Christum. 


The  Vigil  of  Christmas  is  given  below  in  the  Proper 
of  Saints,  December  24,  page  532. 


ADVENT 


PROPER  OF  THE  SAINTS. 

We  give  the  title  of  Proper  of  Saints  to  that 
portion  of  our  work,  which  contains  the  Feasts  of 
Saints,  and  all  such  parts  of  the  Advent  proper  Office 
as  have  a  fixed  day ;  for  example,  the  great  Antiphons, 
the  Vigil  of  Christmas,  &c.  This  division  into  Proper 
of  the  Time  and  Proper  of  Saints  is  that  which  is 
adopted  by  the  Breviary  and  Missal,  and  is  familiar 
to  all  those  who  frequent  the  Divine  Service. 

Our  readers  will  have  observed  in  the  Proper  of 
the  Time  of  Advent,  how  intent  the  holy  Church  is 
in  preparing  for  the  great  feast  of  the  Nativity  of 
our  Lord  ;  in  the  Proper  of  Saints,  they  will  find  her 
celebrating,  with  all  possible  devotion,  the  feasts  of  the 
Friends  of  God,  the  Saints,  which  come  during  that 
time.  Our  separated  brethren  accuse  the  Catholic 
Church  of  giving  a  place  in  the  Liturgy,  to  the  cultus 
of  the  Saints,  which  belongs  to  God  alone.  They  are 
led  to  make  this  accusation,  which  involves  a  very 
serious  error,  from  having  never  considered,  firstly, 
that  the  homage  paid  to  God  in  his  Saints  rebounds 
to  His  glory  who  made  them  Saints  ;  and  secondly, 
that,  at  the  same  time  that  the  Church  honours  the 
Saints  by  keeping  their  feasts,  she  pays  to  the  sove- 
reign and  incommunicable  majesty  of  God  more  acts 
of  religion,  in  one  short  week,  than  Protestantism 
could  possibly  do  in  a  whole  year. 

Let  us,  children  of  the  Church,  love  and  practise 


278  ADVENT. 

devotion  to  the  Saints,  and  remember  how  God,  who 
demands  our  homage,  requires  us  to  pay  that  portion 
of  it  which  consists  in  honouring  him  in  those  whom 
he  has  crowned.  Now,  the  first  homage  which  we 
ought  to  pay  to  God  in  his  Saints  is,  to  study  to 
know  them.  One  of  the  evils  of  our  times  is,  that 
the  Saints  are  not  sufficiently  known.  Protestant 
rationalism,  under  the  false  name  of  Criticism,  has 
done  its  utmost,  during  the  last  two  hundred  years,  to 
lessen  the  devotion  of  the  faithful  towards  the  Saints ; 
and  one  is  often  surprised  and  shocked  to  meet  with 
persons,  otherwise  well  instructed,  and  attached  to 
the  faith,  who  know  little  about  the  Saints,  and  have 
imbibed  most  uncatholic  prejudices  regarding  them. 
But,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  interest  with  which 
some  very  full  and  well  written  lives  have  been  re- 
cently received,  these  prejudices  are  fast  disappearing, 
and  the  time  is  come  when  hagiography  will  become, 
once  more,  a  serious  study  amongst  our  people,  and 
the  ancient  devotion  to  the  Saints  be  revived. 

To  further  this  happy  tendency,  we  have  resolved 
to  imitate  the  Church  herself,  by  giving  the  greatest 
development,  in  these  pages,  to  all  that  regards  the 
honour  due  to  the  Saints.  Firstly,  the  faithful  must 
be  got  to  know  them.  No  method,  it  seemed  to  us, 
could  be  more  effectual  to  this  end,  than  the  one 
adopted  by  the  Church.  She  is  most  desirous  that 
her  children  should  know  the  heroes  of  sanctity  whom 
God  has  given  to  her,  and  in  whom,  together  with  the 
incomparable  Mother  of  God  and  the  Holy  Angels,  she 
puts  her  greatest  hope,  after  that  which  she  places 
in  her  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  the  King  and  Master  and 
Head  of  all  the  Saints.  The  faithful  should,  there- 
fore, understand  that  the  Church  keeps  an  official 
register  of  the  actions,  and  maxims,  and  virtues  of 
the  Saints,  wTho  are  her  glory;  there  she  has  chro- 
nicled, through  all  these  eighteen  hundred  years,  the 
wonders  which  God  has  wrought  in  them  and  by 


PROPER   OF   SAINTS.  279 

them,  and  the  blessings  she  has  received  through 
their  intercession.  This  admirable  history  of  the 
Saints  is  known  under  the  name  of  the  Legends  of 
the  Breviary  ;  a  history  which  the  Church  is  ever 
writing,  for  God  is  ever  adding  to  the  number  of  his 
Saints ;  a  history,  which  the  learned  admire  for  its 
great  beauty  of  style,  and  in  which  the  children  of 
the  Church  find  that  unction  which  has  such  power 
over  the  heart,  and  which  the  Catholic  Church  alone 
can  put  into  human  language.  This  is  not  the  place 
to  notice  the  objections  which  some  critics  have  made 
to  certain  passages  of  some  of  the  Legends,  of  which 
they  contest  the  historical  exactitude  ;  besides,  they 
are  very  few  and  of  little  importance. 

We  therefore  give,  in  this  work,  the  Roman  Le- 
gends, just  as  they  are  in  the  Breviary.  By  this 
means,  we  shall  be  giving  a  general  idea  of  the  life 
and  actions  of  the  Saints  to  those  who  are  completely 
ignorant  of  them.  Even  they  who  have  grown 
familiar  with  the  Lives  of  the  Saints  by  having  read 
such  as  are  in  general  use,  even  they  will  sometimes 
find,  in  these  Legends  of  the  Church,  a  very  different, 
if  not  contrary,  appreciation  of  the  conduct  of  the 
Saints  from  that  which  has  been  put  upon  it  by 
modern  writers.  They  will  find,  that  notwithstand- 
ing their  brevity,  the  Legends  of  the  Breviary  are 
often  more  complete  and  explicit  than  some  of  the 
Lives  they  have  read,  which  consisted  of  twenty  or 
more  pages.  As  to  the  doctrinal  and  moral  apprecia- 
tion, which  almost  necessarily  accompany  the  written 
Lives  of  the  Saints,  a  Catholic  should  remember  that 
when  they  come  from  the  Church,  they  have  for  their 
guarantee  the  authority  of  God  himself. 

After  having  received  from  the  Church  herself  the 
knowledge  we  ought  to  have  of  the  Saints,  we  ought 
also  to  learn  from  her  how  we  are  to  honour  them. 
For  this  reason,  we  shall  first  insert  the  prayers,  which 
the  usage  of  the  Church  consecrated,  in  a  manner,  to 


280  ADVENT. 

them  in  ancient  times ;  and  then,  those  which  were 
composed  at  a  later  period.  Our  work  will  thus 
become  a  complete  manual  of  Catholic  devotion  to 
the  Saints,  giving,  first,  the  formulae  used  in  the  uni- 
versal Church ;  secondly,  those  which  were  com- 
posed during  the  first  and  middle  ages  of  the  Latin 
Churches ;  and  thirdly,  those  which  were  in  use  in 
the  several  churches  of  the  East. 

In  order  to  give  unity  to  these  various  liturgies, 
we  shall  continue  the  method  we  adopted  in  the 
Proper  of  the  Time.  A  simple  and  concise  commen- 
tary shall  be  given  throughout  the  entire  course  of 
our  work,  explaining  the  several  intentions  of  the 
Church  in  the  prayers  and  usages,  which  we  shall 
have  to  give.  But  with  regard  to  everything  which 
is  strictly  of  the  province  of  science  and  archaeology, 
we  shall  use  a  prudent  reserve,  as  such  details  will 
come  better  in  a  special  Treatise. 

To  derive  solid  advantage  from  the  devotion  we 
pay  to  the  Saints  in  the  various  seasons  of  the  year, 
it  is  important  that  we  should  not  disjoin  the  honour 
we  give  to  them  from  that  which  we  have  to  pay  to 
the  Mysteries  of  our  redemption,  which  the  Christian 
Year  gradually  brings  before  us,  and  which  form  the 
basis  of  the  Proper  of  the  Time,  throughout  the 
entire  Cycle.  It  will  not  be  difficult  to  do  this  ;  for 
if  we  read  over  the  Catholic  Calendar  with  an  eye  of 
faith,  we  shall  not  fail  to  see  the  secret  relation, 
which  unites  the  Feasts  of  the  Saints  with  the 
various  mystical  seasons,  in  which  they,  as  it  were, 
bloom.  A  Saint's  feast  is,  generally,  kept  on  the 
very  day  of  his  death  ;  in  other  words,  on  the  day  of 
his  entrance  into  heaven.  That  infinite  Wisdom, — 
which  has  revealed  to  us  that  not  even  a  hair  of  our 
head  shall  perish  without  our  Heavenly  Father's 
having  willed  it, — in  choosing  one  day  in  preference 
to  all  others  for  the  Saint's  death,  may,  surely,  be 
supposed  to  have  selected  it,  because  it  would  be  in 


PROPER  OF   SAINTS.  281 

keeping  with  the  supernatural  harmony  of  the 
Church's  year.  It  should,  therefore,  be  our  duty  to 
study,  during  the  whole  of  the  Liturgical  Year,  the 
relation,  which  the  Saints,  whose  feasts  are  being 
kept,  have  with  the  Season  in  which  the  Church 
celebrates  their  memory. 

As  the  Office  of  the  Church,  in  Advent,  does  riot 
assign  a  Saint's  feast  for  each  day,  we  have  thought 
it  advisable  to  fill  up  the  vacant  days  by  giving  for 
each  day,  from  December  1st  to  Christmas  Eve, 
reflections  upon  the  events  which  preceded  the 
divine  Mystery  of  the  Birth  of  Jesus.  Our  object  is 
to  aid  the  piety  of  the  faithful,  by  offering  them 
meditations,  both  upon  the  facts  related  in  the 
Sacred  Scriptures,  and  upon  the  pious  conjectures 
which  almost  irresistibly  suggest  themselves. 

Lastly,  in  order  to  impress  the  spirit  of  this  holy 
time  more  deeply  on  the  mind,  we  have,  on  each 
day  of  this  second  part  of  our  volume,  given  a 
liturgical  prayer,  taken  from  the  Advent  Offices  of 
the  various  Churches  :  and  thus  we  shall  be  saying, 
each  day,  an  additional  prayer  for  the  Messias  to 
come;  a  prayer,  too,  which  must  be  efficacious,  be- 
cause offered  to  the  Divine  Majesty  in  the  words  of 
our  holy  Mother  the  Church. 


282  ADVENT. 

November  30. 
SAINT  ANDREW,  APOSTLE. 


We  open  our  Proper  of  Saints  for  Advent  with 
St.  Andrew,  because,  although  his  feast  frequently 
occurs  before  this  holy  season  has  begun,  it  some- 
times happens  that  we  have  entered  Advent  when 
the  memory  of  this  great  Apostle  has  to  be  celebrated 
by  the  Church.  This  Feast  is  therefore  destined  to 
terminate,  with  solemnity,  the  Cycle  which  is  at  its 
close,  or  to  add  lustre  to  the  new  one  which  has  just 
begun.  It  seems,  indeed,  fitting  that  the  Christian 
Year  should  begin  and  end  with  the  Cross,  which 
has  merited  for  us  each  of  those  years  which  it  has 
pleased  the  divine  goodness  to  grant  us,  and  which  is 
to  appear,  on  the  last  day,  in  the  clouds  of  heaven, 
as  the  seal  put  on  Time. 

We  should  remember  that  Saint  Andrew  is  the 
Apostle  of  the  Cross.  To  Peter,  Jesus  has  given 
firmness  of  Faith  ;  to  John,  warmth  of  Love ;  the 
mission  of  Andrew  is  to  represent  the  Cross  of  his 
divine  Master.  Now  it  is  by  these  three,  Faith, 
Love,  and  the  Cross,  that  the  Church  renders  herself 
worthy  of  her  Spouse.  Everything  she  has  or  is, 
bears  this  threefold  character.  Hence  it  is  that 
after  the  two  Apostles  just  named,  there  is  none  who 
holds  such  a  prominent  place  in  the  universal 
Liturgy  as  Saint  Andrew. 

But  let  us  read  the  life  of  this  glorious  fisherman 
of  the  lake  of  Genesareth,  who  was  afterwards  to  be 
the  successor  of  Christ  himself,  and  the  companion  of 


NOV.    30.      ST.   ANDKEW,  APOSTLE. 


283 


Peter,  on  the  tree  of  the  Cross.  The  Church  has 
compiled  it  from  the  ancient  Acts  of  the  Martyrdom 
of  the  holy  Apostle,  drawn  up  by  the  Priests  of  the 
Church  of  Patrse,  which  was  founded  by  the  Saint. 
The  authenticity  of  this  venerable  piece  has  been 
contested  by  Protestants,  inasmuch  as  it  makes 
mention  of  several  things  which  would  militate 
against  them.  Their  sentiment  has  been  adopted 
by  several  critics  of  the  17th  and  18th  centuries. 
On  the  other  hand,  these  Acts  have  been  received  by 
a  far  greater  number  of  Catholic  writers  of  eminence  ; 
amongst  whom  may  be  mentioned  the  great  Baron ius, 
Labbe,  Natalis  Alexander,  Gallandus,  Lumper,  Mor- 
celli,  &c.  The  Churches,  too,  both  East  and  West, 
which  have  inserted  these  Acts  in  their  respective 
Offices  of  St.  Andrew,  are  of  some  authority,  as  is 
also  St.  Bernard,  who  has  made  them  the  ground- 
work of  his  three  admirable  Sermons  on  Saint 
Andrew. 


Andrew,  the  Apostle,  born 
at  Bethsaida,  a  town  of 
Galilee,  was  brother  of  Peter, 
and  disciple  of  John  the 
Baptist.  Having  heard  his 
master  say,  speaking  of 
Christ :  Behold  the  Lamb  of 
God  !  he  followed  J  esus,  and 
brought  to  him  his  brother 
also.  When,  afterwards,  he 
was  fishing  with  his  brother 
in  the  sea  of  Galilee,  they 
were  both  called,  before  any 
of  the  other  Apostles,  by  our 
Lord,  who,  passing  by,  said 
to  them  :  Come  after  me  ;  I 
will  make  you  to  be  fishers 
of  men.  Without  delay,  they 
left  their  nets  and  followed 
him.  After  the  passion  and 
resurrection,  Andrew  went 
to  spread  the  faith  of  Christ 


Andreas  Apostolus,  Beth- 
saidse  natus,  qui  est  Gali- 
lseaB  vicus,  frater  Petri,  dis- 
cipulus  Joannis  Baptistse, 
quum  eum  de  Christo  dicen- 
tem  audisset,  Ecce  Agnus 
Dei,  secutus  Jesum,  fratrem 
quoque  suum  ad  eumdem 
perduxit.  Quum  postea  una 
cum  fratre  piscaretur  in  mari 
Galilsese,  ambo  a  prsetereunte 
Christo  Domino  ante  alios 
Apostolos  vocati  illis  verbis  : 
Venite  post  me,  faciam  vos 
fieri  piscatores  hominum  : 
nullam  interponentesinoram, 
et  relictis  retibus  secuti  sunt 
eum.  Post  cujus  Passionem 
et  Besurrectionem  Andreas 
cum  in  Scythiam  Europse, 
quae  ei  provincia  ad  Christi 
fid  em     disseminandam     ob- 


284 


ADVENT. 


tigerat,  venisset,  deiude 
Epirum  ac  Thraciam  pera- 
grasset,  doctrina  et  miraculis 
innumerabiles  homines  ad 
Christum  convertit.  Post 
Patras  Achaise  profeetiis,  et 
in  ea  urbe  plurimis  ad  veri- 
tatem  Evangelicam  perductis, 
JEgeam  Proconsulem,  prae- 
dicationi  Evangelicae  re- 
sistentem,  liberrime  incre- 
pavit  quod  qui  judex  homi- 
mim  haberi  vellet,  Christum 
Deum  omnium  Judicem  a 
daemonibus  elusus  non  agnos- 
ceret. 


>  Tunc  vEgeas  iratus  :  De- 
sine,  inquit,  Christum  jac- 
tare,  cui  similia  verba  nihil 
profuerunt,  quominus  a 
Judaeis  crucifigeretur.  An- 
dream  de  Christo  nihilomi- 
nus  libere  praeclicantem, 
quod  pro  salute  humani  ge- 
neris se  crucingendum  ob^ 
tulisset,  impia  oratione  in- 
terpellat,  ac  demum  horta- 
tur,  ut  sibi  consulens,  diis 
velit  immolare.  Cui  An- 
dreas :  Ego  omnipotenti  Deo, 
qui  unus  et  verus  est,  im- 
molo  quotidie,  non  taurorum 
carnes,  nee  hircorum  sangui- 
nem,  sed  immaculatum  Ag- 
num  in  altari,  cujus  earn  em 
posteaquanr  omnis  populus 
credentium  manducaverit, 
Agnus  qui  sacrificatus  est, 
integer  perseverat  et  vivus. 
Quamobrem  ira  accensus 
^geas  jubet  eum  in  carce- 
rem  detrudi :   unde  populus 


in  Scythia  in  Europe,  which 
was  the  province  assigned  to 
him ;  then  he  travelled 
through  Epirus  and  Thrace, 
and  by  his  teaching  and 
miracles  converted  inumer- 
able  souls  to  Christ.  After- 
wards, having  reached  Patrae 
in  Achaia,  he  persuaded  many 
in  that  city  to  embrace  the 
truth  of  the  Gospel.  Find- 
ing that  the  Proconsul  iEgeas 
resisted  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel,  he  most  freely  up- 
braided him  for  that  he,  who 
desired  to  be  considered  as  a 
judge  of  men,  should  be  so 
far  deceived  by  devils  as  not 
to  acknowledge  Christ  to  be 
God,  the  Judge  of  all. 

Then  iEgeas  being  angry, 
said  :  Cease  to  boast  of  this 
Christ,  whom  such  like  words 
as  these  kept  not  from  being 
crucified  by  the  Jews.  But 
finding  that  Andrew  con- 
tinued boldly  preaching  that 
Christ  had  offered  himself  to 
be  crucified  for  the  salvation 
of  mankind,  he  interrupts 
him  by  an  impious  speech, 
and  at  length  exhorts  him  to 
look  to  his  own  interest  and 
sacrifice  to  the  gods.  Andrew 
answered  him  :  I  offer  up 
every  day  to  almighty  God, 
who  is  one  and  true,  not  the 
flesh  of  oxen,  nor  the  blood 
of  goats,  but  the  spotless 
Lamb  upon  the  altar ;  of 
whose  flesh  the  whole  mul- 
titude of  the  faithful  eat,  and 
the  Lamb  that  is  sacrificed, 
remains  whole  and  living. 
Whereupon  vEgeas  being  ex- 
ceeding angry,  orders  him  to 


NOV.  30.      ST.  ANDREW,  APOSTLE. 


285 


be  thrust  into  prison,  whence 
the  people  would  easily  have 
freed  Andrew,  had  he  not 
himself  appeased  the  multi- 
tude, begging  of  them,  with 
most  earnest  entreaty,  that 
they  would  not  keep  him  from 
the  long-sought-for  crown  of 
martyrdom,  to  which  he  was 
hastening. 

Not  long  after  this,  he  was 
brought  before  the  tribunal, 
where  he  began  to  extol  the 
mystery  of  the  Cross,  and 
rebuke  the  judge  for  his  im- 
piety. iEgeas,  no  longer  able 
to  contain  himself  on  hearing 
these  words,  ordered  him  to 
be  hoisted  on  a  cross,  and  so 
to  die  like  Christ.  Andrew, 
having  been  brought  to  the 
place  of  execution,  seeing  the 
Cross  at  some  distance,  began 
to  cry  out  :  O  good  Cross, 
made  beautiful  by  the  body 
of  my  Lord  !  so  long  desired, 
so  anxiously  loved,  so  unceas- 
ingly sought  after,  and  now 
at  last  ready  for  my  soul  to 
enjoy  !  take  me  from  amidst 
men,  and  restore  me  to  my 
Master,  that  by  thee  He  may 
receive  me,  who  by  thee  re- 
deemed me.  He  was  there- 
fore fastened  to  the  cross,  on 
which  he  hung  alive  two  days, 
preaching  without  cessation 
the  faith  of  Christ  :  after 
which  he  passed  to  Him, 
whose  death  he  had  so  covet- 
ed. The  Priests  and  Deacons 
of  Achaia,  who  wrote  his  Pas- 
sion, attest  that  all  the  things 
which  they  have  recorded 
were  heard  and  seen  by 
them.  His  relics  were  first 
translated  to  Constantinople, 


Andream  facile  liberasset, 
nisi  ipse  sedasset  multitudi- 
nem ;  vehementius  rogans,  ne 
se  ad  optatissimam  martyrii 
coronam  properantem  impe- 
dirent. 


Igitur  paulo  post  in  tri- 
bunal productum,  cum 
iEgeas  Crucis  extollentem 
mysteria,  sibique  suam  im- 
pietatem  exprobrantem  diu- 
tius  ferre  non  posset,  in 
crucem  tolli,  et  Christi 
mortem  imitari  jussit.  Ad- 
ductus  Andreas  ad  locum 
martyrii,  cum  crucem  vidisset 
longe,  exclamare  ccepit  : 
0  bona  Crux,  quae  decorem 
ex  membris  Domini  susce- 
pisti,  diu  desiderata,  sollicite 
amata,  sine  intermissione 
qusesita,  et  aliquando  cupienti 
animo  prseparata  :  accipe  me 
ab  hominibus,  et  redde  me 
magistro  meo ;  ut  per  te  me 
recipiat,  qui  per  te  me  re- 
demit.  Itaque  cruci  affixus 
est :  in  qua  biduum  vivus 
pendens,  et  Christi  fidein 
prsedicare  nunquam  _  inter- 
mittens, ad  eum  migravit, 
cujus  mortis  similitudinem 
concupierat.  Quse  omnia 
Presbyteri  et  Diaconi  Achaiae 
qui  ejus  Passionem  scrip- 
serunt,  se  ita  ut  commemo- 
rata  sunt,  auclisse  et  vidisse 
testantur.  Ejus  ossa  primum 
Constantio  imperatore  Con- 
stantinopolim,  deincle  Amal- 
phim  translata  sunt.  _  Ca- 
put, Pio  Secundo  Pontifice, 
Romam    allatum,    in    Basi- 


286 


ADVENT. 


lica  sancti  Petri  collocation    under  the  emperor  Constan- 
est.  tius,     and     afterwards      to 

Amain.  During  the  Ponti- 
ficate of  Pius  II.,  the  head 
was  taken  to  Rome,  and 
placed  in  the  Basilica  of  St. 
Peter, 

Let  us  now  listen  to  the  several  Churches  on  earth, 
celebrating  the  grand  triumph  of  our  Apostle.  Let 
us  begin  with  Rome,  the  Mother  and  Mistress  of  all 
Churches.  Nothing  could  be  more  expressive  than 
the  language  she  uses  in  praise  of  the  Apostle  of 
the  Cross.  First,  she  employs  the  words  of  the 
Gospel,  which  record  the  circumstances  of  his  voca- 
tion; then,  she  selects  the  most  touching  passages 
from  the  Acts  of  his  martyrdom,  drawn  up  by  the 
Priests  of  Patrse  ;  and  both  are  intermingled  with 
appropriate  sentiments  of  her  own.  Our  first  selec- 
tion shall  be  from  the  Responsories  of  Matins. 

3$.  Cum  perambularet  Do- 
minus  juxta  mare  Galilaeae, 
vidit  Petrum  et  Andream 
retia  mittentes  in  mare  :  et 
vocavit  eos,  dicens :  *  Ve- 
nite  post  me,  faciam  vos 
fieri  piscatores  hominum. 
y.  Erant  enim  piscatores,  et 
ait  illis  :  *  Venite  post  me, 
faciam  vos  fieri  piscatores 
hominum. 

1$.  Mox  ut  vocem  Domini 
praedicantis  audivit  beatus 
Andreas,  relictis  retibus, 
quorum  usu  actuque  vivebat, 

*  iEternae  vitae  secutus  est 
praemia  largientem.  ft.  Hie 
est  qui  pro  amore  Christi 
pependit  in  cruce,  et  pro  lege 
ejus     sustinuit     passionem. 

*  iEternae  vitae  secutus  est 
praemia  largientem. 


1$.  When  the  Lord  was 
walking  by  the  sea  of  Galilee, 
he  saw  Peter  and  Andrew 
casting  nets  into  the  sea,  and 
he  called  them,  saying  :  * 
Come  after  me,  I  will  make 
you  to  be  fishers  of  men. 
ft.  For  they  were  fishers, 
and  he  saith  to  them  :  *  Come 
after  me,  I  will  make  you  to 
be  fishers  of  men. 

]$.  As  soon  as  blessed 
Andrew  heard  the  voice  of 
the  Lord  calling  him,  leaving 
his  nets,  by  the  use  and  work- 
ing of  which  he  lived,  *  He 
followed  him  who  gives 
the  reward  of  eternal  life. 
ft.  This  is  he  who,  for  the 
love  of  Christ,  hung  upon  a 
cross,  and  for  his  law  endured 
a  passion.  *  He  followed 
Him  who  gives  the  reward 
of  eternal  life. 


NOV.    30.      ST.    ANDKEW,    APOSTLE. 


2S7 


I£.  Andrew,  tlie  good 
Teacher,  and  the  friend  of 
God,  is  led  to  the  cross ; 
which,  seeing  afar  off,  he 
says  :  Hail,  O  Cross  !  *  Re- 
ceive the  disciple  of  Him  who 
hung  upon  thee,  Christ,  my 
master.  $".  Hail,  O  Cross, 
which  art  consecrated  by  the 
body  of  Christ,  and  art 
adorned  by  his  members  as 
with  pearls.  *  Receive  the 
disciple  of  Him  who  hung 
upon  thee,  Christ,  my  master. 

i^.  Andrew  seeing  the 
Cross,  cried  out,  saying  :  O 
admirable  Cross ;  O  desirable 
Cross  !  0  Cross  which  shinest 
throughout  the  whole  world  ! 
It  Receive  the  disciple  of 
Christ,  and  by  thee  may  He 
receive  me,  who  dying  by 
thee  redeemed  me.  y.  O 
good  Cross,  which  art  made 
fair  and  beautiful  by  the 
body  of  the  Lord.  *  Receive 
the  disciple  of  Christ,  and 
by  thee  may  He  receive  me, 
who  dying  by  thee  redeemed 
me. 

1$.  Saint  Andrew  prayed, 
as  he  looked  up  to  heaven, 
and  with  a  loud  voice,  cried 
out  and  said  :  Thou  art  my 
God,  whom  I  have  seen  : 
suffer  me  not  to  be  detached 
by  the  impious  judge  :  *  For 
I  have  learnt  the  power  of 
the  holy  Cross.  ]?.  Thou  art 
the  Christ  my  master,  whom 
I  have  loved,  whom  I  have 
known,  whom  I  have  con- 
fessed: graciously  hear  me 
in  this  one  prayer.  *  For 
I  have  learnt  the  power  of 
thy  holy  Cross. 


1$.  Doctor  bonus,  et  ami- 
cus Dei  Andreas  ducitur  ad 
crucem  ;  quam  a  longe  as- 
piciens  dixit  :  Salve,   Crux  ! 

*  Suscipe  discipulum  ejus, 
qui  pependit  in  te  magister 
meus  Christus.  $".  Salve, 
Crux,  quse  in  corpore  Christi 
dedicata  es  ;  et  ex  membris 
ejus  tan  quam  margaritis  or- 
nata.  *  Suscipe  discipulum 
ejus  qui  pependit  in  te,  ma- 
gister meus  Christus. 

I£.  Videns  crucem  Andreas 
exclamavit,  dicens  :  O  Crux 
admirabilis  !  O  Crux  desi- 
derabilis  !  O  Crux  quse  per 
tot  um  mundum  rutilas  !  * 
Suscipe  discipulum  Christi, 
ac  per  te  me  recipiat,  qui 
per  te  moriens-  me  redemit. 
~ff.  O  bona  Crux,  quae  de- 
corem  et  pulchritudinem  de 
membris  Domini  suscepisti. 

*  Suscipe  discipulum  Christi, 
ac  per  te  me  recipiat,  qui  per 
te  moriens  me  redemit. 


I£.  Oravit  sanctus  Andreas, 
dum  respiceret  in  coelum,  et 
voce  magna  clamavitet  dixit : 
Tu  es  Deus  meus,  quern  vidi  : 
ne  me  patiaris  ab  impio  ju- 
dice  deponi  :  *  Quia  virtu- 
tem  sanctse  Crucis  agnovi. 
y.  Tu  es  magister  meus 
Christus,  quern  dilexi,  quern 
cognovi,  quem  confessus 
sum :  tantummodo  in  ista 
voce,  exaudi  me.  *  _  Quia 
virtutem  sanctse  Crucis  ag- 
novi. 


2S8 


ADVENT. 


The  Antiphons  of  Yespers  are  full  of  a  lyric  grace- 
fulness and  unction. 


ANTIPHONS. 


Salve  Crux  pretiosa !  sus- 
cipe  discipulum  ejus,  qui  pe- 
pendit  in  te,  magister  mens 
CJiristus. 

Beatus  Andreas  orabat, 
dicens  :  Domine,  Rex  seternse 
glorias,  suscipe  rne  penden- 
tem  in  patibulo. 

Andreas  Christi  famulus 
dignus  Dei  Apostolus,  ger- 
manus  Petri,  et  in  passione 
socius. 

'  Maximilla  Christo  ama- 
bilis,  tulit  corpus  Apostoli, 
optimo  loco  cum  aromatibus 
sepelivit. 

Qui  persequebantur  jus- 
tum,  demersisti  eos,  Do- 
mine, in  inferno,  et  in  ligno 
Crucis  dux  justi  fuisti. 


Hail,  O  precious  Cross  ! 
receive  the  disciple  of  Him, 
who  hung  upon  thee,  Christ 
my  master. 

The  blessed  Andrew  pray- 
ed, saying  :  O  Lord,  King  of 
eternal  glory,  receive  me 
hanging  on  this  gibbet. 

Andrew,  the  servant  of 
Christ,  the  worthy  Apostle 
of  God,  the  brother  of  Peter, 
and  his  companion  in  the 
cross. 

Maximilla,  a  woman  dear 
to  Christ,  took  the  body  of 
the  Apostle,  and  embalming 
it,  buried  it  in  a  most  ho- 
noured place. 

Thou,  O  Lord,  didst  plunge 
into  hell  them  that  perse- 
cuted thy  just  one,  and  wast 
his  guide  and  helper  on  the 
wood  of  the  cross. 


The  following  Hymn  was  composed,  in  honour  of 
the  holy  Apostle,  by  Pope  St.  Damasus,  the  friend  of 
St.  Jerome.     There  is  an  allusion  in  it  to  the  name 


Andrew,  which, 
that  of  Beauty. 


amongst  its 


many  meanings,  has 


HYMN. 


Decus  sacrati  nominis, 
Vitamque  nomen  exprimens, 
Hoc  te  Decorum  prsedicat 
Crucis  beatse  gloria. 

Andrea,  Christi  Apostole, 
Hoc  ipso  jam  vocabulo 
Signaris  isto  nomine, 
Decorem  idem  mystice. 


The  Beauty  of  thy  sacred 
name,  expressive  of  thy  life, 
declares  how  Beautiful  thou 
art  in  the  glory  of  thy  blessed 
cross. 

Andrew,  Apostle  of  Christ, 
thy  very  name  points  to  the 
mystic  Beauty  of  thy  soul. 


NOV.    30.      ST.    ANDREW,   APOSTLE. 


289 


The  Cross  exalts  thee,  the 
blessed  Cross  loves  thee,  the 
bitter  Cross  prepares  for  thee 
the  joys  of  the  light  to  come. 

The  mystery  of  the  Cross 
shines  in  thee  with  a  two- 
fold beauty :  for  by  the 
Cross  thou  dost  vanquish 
insults,  and  thou  preachest 
to  men  the  Divine  Blood 
shed  on  the  Cross. 

Then  warm  up  our  languid 
hearts,  and  take  us  under 
thy  care ;  that  so,  by  the 
victory  of  the  Cross,  we  may 
reach  our  heavenly  country. 

Amen. 


Quern  Crux   ad  alta  pro- 

vehit, 
Crux  quern  beata  diligit, 
Cui  Crux  amara  prseparat 
Lucis  f  uturse  gaudia. 

In  te  Crucis  mysterium 
Cluit  gemello  stigmate, 
Dum  probra  vincis  per  Cru- 

cem, 
Crucisque  pandis  sanguinem. 


Jam  nos  foveto  languidos, 
Curamque  nostri  suscipe, 
Quo  per  Crucis  victoriam 
Cceli  petamus  patriam. 

Amen. 


The  two  following  Sequences,  in  honour  of  the 
Apostle  of  the  Cross,  were  written  in  the  Middle 
Ages.  The  first  belongs  to  the  eleventh  century. 
Like  all  the  Sequences  of  that  period,  it  has  no 
regular  rhythm. 


SEQUENCE. 


The  most  holy  praises  of 
this  day's  solemnity, 

Let  the  universal  Church 
sing  in  worthy  strains. 

The  most  holy  merit  of  the 
meekest  of  saints  is  to  be 
extolled, 

Of  the  Apostle  Andrew, 
so  bright  in  his  admirable 
graces. 

Having  learned  from  John 
the  Baptist,  that  He  had 
come,  who  would  take  sin 
away, 

He  straightways  entered 
his  dwelling,  and  listened  to 
his  words ; 


SacEOsancta  hodiernae  fes- 
tivitatis  prseconia. 

Digna  laude  universa  ca- 
tegorizet  Ecclesia. 
_  Mitissimi  sanctorum  sanc- 
tissima  extollenda  merita, 

Apostoli     Andreas,    admi- 
randa  praefulgentis  gratia. 

_  Hie  accepto  a  Joanne  Bap- 
tista  quod  venisset  qui  tolle- 
ret  peccata ; 

Mox  ejus   intrans  habita- 
cula,  audiebat  eloquia. 


290 


ADVENT. 


Inventoque  fratre  suo  Bar- 
jona  :  Invenimus,  ait  ovans, 
Messiam. 

Et  duxit  eum  ad  dulcifluam 
Salvatoris  prassentiain. 

Hunc  perscrutantem  ma- 
ria,  Christi  vocavit  dementia. 

Artem  piscandi  commu- 
tans  dignitate  apostolica. 

Hujus  animam  post  clara 
festi  Paschalis  gaudia, 

Sancti  Spiritus  prseclara 
perlustravit  potentia  ; 

Ad  praedicandum  populis 
posnitentiam,  et  Dei  Pa- 
ths per  Filium  clementiam. 

Gratulare  ergo  tanto  patre, 
Achaia ; 

Illustrata  ejus  salutari 
doctrina  ; 

Honorata  multimoda  sig- 
norum  frequentia. 

Et  tu  gem  ens  plora,  trux 
carnifex  iEgea. 

Te  lues  inferna  et  mors 
tenet  seterna. 

Sed  Andream  felicia  per 
Cmcem  manent  gaudia. 

Jam  Regem  tuum  spectas, 
jam  in  ejus  conspectu,  An- 
drea, stas. 

Odorem  suavitatis  jam 
adspiras,  quern  divini  amoris 
aroma  dat. 


cce- 


Sis     ergo    nobis    inclyta 
dulcedo,  spirans  intima 
lestis  vitae  balsama. 

Amen. 


And  finding  his  own 
brother,  Barjona,  he  said  to 
him  with  great  joy  :  We 
have  found  'the  Messias. 

And  he  led  him  to  the  loved 
presence  of  the  Saviour. 

As  Andrew  was  fishing  in 
the  sea,  the  mercy  of  Christ 
called  him, 

Giving  him,  in  exchange 
for  his  art  of  fishing,  the  dig- 
nity of  an  Apostle. 

His  soul,  after  the  grand 
joys  of  the  Paschal  feast, 

Was  visited  by  the  glorious 
power  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 

That  he  might  go  and 
preach  penance  to  the  world, 
and  tell  it  of  the  mercy  of 
the  Father  by  the  Son. 

Rejoice,  then,  O  Achaia  ! 
that  thou  hast  such  an  Apos- 
tle, 

Who  enlightened  thee  with 
his  saving  doctrine, 

And  honoured  thee  with  his 
many  and  manifold  miracles. 

But  thou  fierce  torturer, 
iEgeas,  cry  and  weep  : 

The  pains  of  hell  and  eter- 
nal death  are  thine  : 

Whilst  Andrew  has  won 
happiness  and  joy  .  by  his 
Cross. 

O  Andrew  !  now  thou  seest 
thy  King  :  now  thou  art  in 
his  presence ; 

Now  thou  art  breathing 
the  odour  of  sweetness,  which 
comes  from  the  aroma  of  di- 
vine love. 

Be,  then,  unto  us  a  deli- 
cious sweetness,  giving  out 
the  hidden  balsam  of  the  ce- 
lestial life. 

Amen. 


NOV.    30.      ST.   ANDREW,   APOSTLE. 


291 


The  second  Sequence,  written  in  rhythm  and  correct 
metre,  is  the  composition  of  the  pious  Adam  of  Saint 
Victor,  the  greatest  lyric  poet  of  the  Middle  Ages. 


SEQUENCE. 


Let  us  exult  and  rejoice, 
and  be  delighted  in  the  praises 
sung  to  Andrew  the  Apostle. 

His  faith,  and  teachings, 
and  actions,  and  all  his  la- 
bours for  Christ,  deserve  a 
worthy  celebration. 

'Twas  he  led  Peter  to  the 
faith.  'Twas  he  on  whom  the 
Light  first  shone  ;  the  Bap- 
tist showed  it  him. 

Near  the  sea  of  Galilee,  our 
Lord  called  Peter  and  An- 
drew by  the  one  same  elec- 
tion. 

They  who  were  once  fish- 
ermen, are  become  heralds  of 
the  Word,  and  models  of 
every  virtue. 

They  let  down  their  nets 
for  a  draught  of  men  ;  and 
carefully  watch  over  the  in- 
fant Church. 

Andrew  is  separated  from 
his  brother,  and  sent  into  the 
country  about  Achaia. 

A  great  portion  of  that 
province  enters,  by  the  grace 
of  God,  into  Andrew's  net. 

The  holy  and  learned  Doc- 
tor forms  the  heart  of  his 
people  by  his  faith,  life, 
preaching,  and  miracles. 

When  iEgeas  discovered 
what  Andrew  had  done,  he 
was  excited  to  great  anger. 

But  Andrew's  mind,  ever 
calm  and  manly,  set  little 
value  on  this  life,  and  armed 
itself  with  patience. 


Exsultemus  et  lsetemur  : 
Et  Andreae  delectemur 
Laudibus  Apostoli. 

Hujus  fidem,  dogma,  mo- 
res, 
Et  pro  Christo  tot  labores, 
Digne  decet  recoli. 

Hie     ad     fidem     Petrum 
duxit, 
Cui  primum  lux  illuxit, 
Joannis  indicio. 

Secus  mare  Galihese, 
Petri  simul  et  Andreee 
Sequitur  electio. 

Ambo  prius  piscatores, 
Verbi  fiunt  assertores, 
Et  forma  justitise. 

Eete  laxant  in  capturam  ; 
Vigilemque  gerunt  curam 
Nascentis  Ecclesise. 

A  fratre  dividitur, 
Et  in  partes  mittitur 
Andreas  Achaise. 

In  Andreas  retia 
Currit,  Dei  gratia, 
Magna  pars  provincise. 

Fide,  vita,  verbo,  signis, 
Doctor  pius  et  insignis 
Cor  informat  populi. 

Ut  iEgeas  comperit 
Quid  Andreas  egerit, 
Irse  surgunt  stimuli. 

Mens  secura,  mens  virilis, 
Cui  prsesens  vita  vilis, 
Viget  patientia. 


292 


ADVENT. 


Blandimentis  aut  tormen- 
tis 
Non  enervat  robur  mentis 
Judicis  insania. 

Crucem  videns  praeparari, 
Suo  gestit  conformari 
Magistro  discipulus. 

Mors  pro  morte  solvitur, 
Et  Crucis  appetitur 
Triumphalis  titulus. 

In  cruce  vixit  biduum, 
Victurus  in  perpetuum  : 
Nee  vult  volente  populo 
Deponi  de  patibulo. 


Hora  fere  dimidia, 
Luce  perfusus  nimia, 
Cum  luce,  cum  laetitia, 
Pergit  ad  lucis  atria. 


O  Andrea  gloriose, 
Cujus  preces  pretiosae, 
Cujus  mortis  luminosse 
Dulcis  et  memoria. 

Ab     hac    valle    lacryma- 
rum, 
Nos  ad  illud  lumen  clarum, 
Pie  Pastor  animarum, 
Tua  transfer  gratia. 

Amen. 


The  senseless  judge  offers 
him  his  favour,  or  threatens 
him  with  tortures,  but  cannot 
shake  his  constant  soul. 

Seeing  the  Cross  was  being 
prepared,  Andrew,  as  a  true 
disciple,  is  proud  to  be  thus 
made  like  his  Master. 

He  repays  the  death  of 
Jesus  by  his  own,  ambitious 
to  have  the  trophy  of  triumph, 
the  Cross. 

He  lived  two  days  hanging 
on  that  Cross,  which  was  to 
make  him  live  for  ever  ;  the 
people  resolve  to  loose  him 
from  it :  but  he  would  not 
have  it  so  ;  and  clings  to  his 
Cross. 

An  exceeding  bright  light 
surrounds  him  for  nearly  half 
an  hour ;  and  then,  in  this 
light,  and  in  this  joy,  he 
mounts  to  the  realms  of 
light, 

0  glorious  Andrew,  whose 
prayers  are  so  precious,  and 
whose  bright  death  is  so  sweet 
to  think  on, 

Take  us,  by  thy  loving 
prayers,  from  this  vale  of 
tears,  and  transfer  us  to  that 
fair  land  of  light,  O  thou  good 
Shepherd  of  souls. 

Amen. 


The  pieces  so  far  given  belong  to  the  Roman 
Liturgy,  being  taken  from  the  books  of  this  Mother 
of  Churches,  or  from  those  of  the  different  Churches 
of  the  West,  which  follow  the  form  of  her  Offices. 
We  will  now  give,  in  honour  of  our  holy  Apostle, 
some  of  the  formulae,  which  the  other  ancient  Litur- 
gies used  for  his  feast;  we  will  begin  wdth  the 
Ambrosian  Rite,  from  which  we  take  the  following 
beautiful  Preface. 


NOV.    SO.      ST.   ANDREW,   APOSTLE. 


2.93 


PREFACE. 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 
right  and  available  to  salva- 
tion, that  we  should  always, 
and  in  all  places,  give  thanks 
to  thee,  O  holy  Lord,  Al- 
mighty Father,  Eternal  God  ; 
for  we  are  keeping  the  feast 
of  a  sacred  mystery,  a  day  on 
which  the  blessed  Andrew 
showed  himself  to  be  indeed 
the  brother  of  Peter  the 
Apostle,  both  by  his  preach- 
ing and  his  confession  of  thy 
Christ  ;  and  filled  up  the 
measure  of  the  apostolic 
dignity  by  his  passion  and 
his  glory  ;  for  what  he  had 
loudly  and  boldly  preached, 
he  would  not  cease  to  pro- 
claim even  on  his  cross  :  and 
he  deserved  to  follow,  during 
life,  the  author  of  eternal 
life,  and  to  imitate  him  in 
the  manner  of  his  death  ; 
that  thus  having,  in  obe- 
dience to  his  precept,  cruci- 
fied in  himself  all  earthly 
desires,  he  might,  in  accord- 
ance with  his  example,  be 
fastened  to  a  cross.  The  two 
brothers,  the  two  fishermen, 
are  both,  therefore,  raised  up 
to  heaven  by  a  cross ;  that 
so,  having  been,  by  thy 
grace,  bound  together  by  so 
many  ties  during  this  life, 
they  might  also  be  like  each 
other  by  the  crown  they 
wear  in  heaven  ;  and  as  their 
combat  was  the  same,  their 
reward  might  be  the  same. 

The  Gallican  Liturgy  also  celebrated  the  glories 
of  St.  Andrew.     Amongst  the  few  fragments  which 


Vere  dignum  et  justum 
est,  asquum  et  salutare,  nos 
tibi  semper  et  ubique  gratias 
agere,  Domine  sancte,  Pater 
omnipotens,  asterne  Deus. 
Adest  enim  nobis  dies  sacri 
votiva  mysterii :  qua  beatus 
Andreas  germanum  se  Petri 
Apostoli  tarn  prasdicatione 
Christi  tui,  quam  confes- 
sione  monstravit ;  et  aposto- 
licas  numerum  dignitatis 
simul  passione  supplevit  et 
gloria ;  ut  id,  quod  libera 
praedicaverat  voce,  nee  pen- 
dens taceret  in  cruce  :  aucto- 
remque  vitas  perennis  tam  in 
hac  vita  sequi,  quam  in  mor- 
tis genere  meruit  imitari  :  ut 
cujus  praecepto  terrena  in 
semetipso  crucifixerat  desi- 
deria,  ejus  exemplo  ipse  pati- 
bulo  figeretur.  Utrique  igi- 
tur  germani  piscatores,  ambo 
cruce  elevantur  ad  ccelum  ; 
ut,  quos  in  hujus  vitas  cursu 
tua  gratia  tot  vinculis  pieta- 
tis  constrinxerat,  hos  similis 
in  regno  coslorum  necteret 
et  corona  :  et  quibus  erat 
una  causa  certaminis,  una 
retributio  esset  et  prasmii. 


294 


ADVENT. 


have  been  handed  down  to  us  of  this  Liturgy,  there 
is  not  a  single  piece  in  poetry.  The  following  Pre- 
face, or,  as  it  was  then  called,  Contestation,  will  show 
that  the  Church  of  Gaul,  from  the  fourth  to  the 
eighth  centuries,  shared  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
Roman  and  Ambrosian  Churches  for  the  glorious 
Apostle  of  the  Cross. 


CONTESTATION. 


Dignum  et  justum  est; 
aequum  et  justum  est  :  pie- 
tati  tuse  ineffabiles  gratias 
referre,  omnipotens  sempi- 
terne  Deus  ;  et  insestimabili 
gaudio  passionem  tuorum 
praedicare  Sanctorum,  per 
Christum  Dominum  nos- 
trum. Qui  beato  Andreas  in 
prima  vocatione  dedit  fidem  ; 
et  in  passione  donavit  victo- 
riam.  Acceperat  hasc  utra- 
que  beatus  Andreas ;  ideo 
habebat  et  in  prsedicatione 
constantiam,  et  in  passione 
tolerantiam.  Qui  post  iniqua 
verbera,  post  earceris  septa, 
alligatus  suspendio  se  purum 
sacriiicium  tibi  obtulit  Deo. 
Extendit  mitissimus  brachia 
ad  ccelos  ;  ampiectitur  crucis 
vexillum  ;  defigit  in  osculis 
ora  :  Agni  cognoscit  arcana. 
Denique  dum  ad  patibulum 
duceretur,  in  cruce  suspen- 
deretur,  carne  patiebatur,  et 
Spiritu  loquebatur.  Obli- 
viscitur  crucis  tormenta ; 
dum  de  cruce  Christum  prse- 
conat.  Quantum  enim  cor- 
pus ejus  in  ligno  extendeba- 
tur  :  tantum  in  lingua  ejus 
Christus  exaltabatur;  quia 
pendens  in  ligno,  sociari  se 
ei  gratulabatur.    Absolvi  se 


It  is  meet  and  just ;  it  is 
right  and  just,  that  we. 
should  give  ineffable  thanks 
to  thy  mercy,  O  almighty 
and  eternal  God  !  and  cele- 
brate with  incomparable  joy 
the  sufferings  of  thy  Saints, 
through  Christ  our  Lord  : 
Who  gave  to  the  blessed 
Andrew,  at  his  first  calling 
him,  the  gift  of  faith;  and 
in  his  martyrdom,  victory. 
Both  had  the  blessed  An- 
drew received ;  therefore  had 
he  constancy  in  his  preach- 
ing, and  patience  in  his  pas- 
sion. After  being  unjustly 
scourged,  and  thrust  into 
prison,  he  was  tied  to  a  gib- 
bet, and  on  it  offered  him- 
self a  pure  sacrifice  to  thee 
his  God.  Most  gentle  Saint, 
he  lifts  up  his  hands  to 
heaven ;  he  embraces  the 
standard  of  the  cross ;  he 
kisses  it ;  he  understands 
the  secrets  of  the  Lamb. 
When,  at  last,  he  was  led  to 
the  cross,  and  fastened  to  it, 
his  flesh  suffered,  but  his 
spirit  spoke.  He  forgot  the 
torture  of  the  Cross,  whilst 
he  preached  Christ  from  the 
Cross ;  for  the  more  his  body 
was  being  stretched  on  the 


NOV.   30.      ST.   ANDREW,   APOSTLE. 


295 


non  patitur  a  cruce,  ne  te- 
pescat  certamen  in  tempore. 
Turba  circumspicit,  et  la- 
mentat :  demitti  a  vinculo 
petit,_  quern  reparatorem 
mentis  inteiligit.  Laxari 
postulat  justum,  ne  pereat 
populus  hoc  delicto.  Interea 
fundit  Martyr  spiritum,  pos- 
sessurus  sempiterni  Judicis 
regnum  :  pro  cujus  meritis 
concede  nobis,  omnipotens 
Deus ;  ut  a  malis  omnibus 
tuti  atque  defensi,  tibi  Do- 
mino nostro?  Deo  Marty  rum 
et  Principi  Apostolorum, 
laudes  semper  et  gratias  re- 
feramus. 


wood,  the  more  did  his 
tongue  extol  Christ,  seeing 
that  by  thus  hanging  on  the 
cross,  he  was  honoured  with 
being  made  a  companion  of 
Christ.  He  suffers  not  him- 
self to  be  loosened  from  the 
cross,  lest  the  combat  should 
lose  intensity  by  the  delay. 
The  crowd  looks  upon  him, 
and  is  in  lamentation ;  it 
knows  him  to  be  the  physi- 
cian of  the  soul,  and  de- 
mands that  he  be  freed  from 
his  chains.  It  demands  that 
the  just  man  be  liberated, 
lest  this  crime  should  de- 
stroy the  people.  Mean- 
while, the  Martyr  breathes 
forth  his  soul,  and  goes  to 
take  possession  of  the  king- 
dom of  the  eternal  Judge. 
Grant  us,  O  almighty  God, 
by  his  merits,  that  we,  being 
safe  and  protected  from  all 
evils,  may  for  ever  give 
praise  and  thanks  to  thee, 
our  Lord,  the  God  of  the 
Martyrs,  and  the  Prince  of 
the  Apostles. 


The  Mozarabic  Liturgy  is  extremely  rich  in  its 
praises  of  St.  Andrew,  both  in  the  Missal  and  the 
Breviary :  we  must  limit  ourselves  to  the  following 
beautiful  prayer. 


CAPITULUM. 

O  Christ,   our  Lord,  who  Christe,  Dominus    noster, 

didst      beautify    the     most  qui  beatissimum  Andream, 

blessed    Andrew    with    the  et    Apostolatus     gratia,    et 

grace    of    Apostleship,    and  Martyrii    decorasti    corona ; 

the  crown  of  Martyrdom,  by  hoc  illi  specialiter  in  munere 

granting  to  him  this  special  prsestans,  ut    Crucis  prsedi- 

gift,  that  by  preaching  the  cando  mysterium,  ad  Crucis 

mystery    of    the    Cross,    he  mereretur  pervenire  patibu- 


296  ADVENT. 

lum :  da  nobis,  ut  sanctse  should  merit  the  death  of 
Crucis  tuae  verissimi  am  a-  the  Cross :  grant  us  to 
tores  effecti,  abnegantes  nos-  become  most  true  lovers  of 
metipsos  tollamus  crucem  thy  holy  Cross,  and,  denying 
nostram,  et  sequamur  te  :  ut  ourselves,  to  take  up  our 
passionibus  tuis  in  hac  vita  cross  and  follow  thee  ;  that 
communicantes,  ad  seternam  by  thus  sharing  thy  suffer- 
vitam  pervenire  mereamur  ings  in  this  life,  we  may  de- 
fences, serve  the  happiness  of  ob- 
taining life  everlasting. 

The  Greek  Church  is  as  fervent  as  any  of  the 
Churches  of  the  West  in  celebrating  the  prerogatives 
and  merits  of  St.  Andrew.  He  is  the  more  dear  to 
it,  because  Constantinople  considers  him  as  her 
patron  Apostle.  It  would,  perhaps,  be  difficult  for 
the  Greeks  to  give  any  solid  proofs  of  St.  Andrew's 
having  founded,  as  they  pretend,  the  Church  of 
Byzantium  ;  but  this  is  certain,  that  Constantinople 
enjoyed,  for  many  centuries,  the  possession  of  the 
precious  treasure  of  the  Saint's  Relics.  They  were 
translated  to  that  city  in  the  year  357,  through  the 
interest  of  the  Emperor  Constantius,  who  placed 
them  in  the  Basilica  of  the  Apostles  built  by  Con- 
stantine.  Later  on,  that  is,  about  the  middle  of  the 
6th  century,  Justinian  caused  them  to  be  translated 
a  second  time,  but  only  from  one  part  of  that  same 
Basilica  to  another.  We  borrow  the  two  following 
beautiful  Hymns  from  the  Menaea  of  the  Greeks; 
the  first  is  sung  in  the  Evening  Office,  the  second  in 
the  Morning  Office. 

IN   THE   SOLEMN   EVENING   OFFICE. 

Luci    antelucanse    assimi-  When  He,  who  is  likened 

latus,  quern  splendorem  hy-  to  the   Star  of   early  morn, 

postaticum   Paternse   glorias  whom  we  call  the  hypostatic 

dicimus,  hominum  genus  per  splendour    of    the    Father's 

suam     magnam     misericor-  glory,   willed  in    his    great 

diam  salvare  cum  voluisset,  mercy  to   save  the    human 

tunc    primus,    gloriose,    illi  race  ;       thou,     O     glorious 

occurristi,  illustratus  interius  Andrew,   wast  the    first    to 


NOV.    30.      ST.    ANDREW,   APOSTLE. 


297 


meet  him,  being  enlightened 
interiorly  with  the  most  per- 
fect brightness  of  his  Divi- 
nity ;  hence  thou  art  called 
the  herald  and  Apostle  of 
Christ  our  Lord.  Pray  to 
him  for  us.  that  he  save  and 
enlighten  our  souls. 

When  He,  whom  the  Pre- 
cursors  voice  had  pro- 
claimed, the  all-holy  Word, 
was  made  Flesh,  and  gave  us 
life,  and  gave  the  good 
tidings  of  salvation  to  the 
earth  ;  then  didst  thou,  most 
holyAndrew,  follow  him,  and 
make  thyself  his  first-fruits, 
and  sacrifice,  and  as  it  were 
the  first  oblation  of  men  : 
thou  didst  make  him  known 
to  thy  brother,  telling  him 
that  this  was  our  God.  Pray 
to  Jesus  for  us,  that  he  save 
our  souls. 

When  He  appeared  who 
clothed  himself  with  our  flesh 
in  a  virginal  yet  fruitful 
womb,  and  was  thus  the  Son 
of  a  Virgin,  the  teacher  of 
piety,  giving  us  this  model  of 
purity ;  then  wast  thou  happy, 
O  Andrew,  most  ardent  lover 
of  virtue  ;  disposing  in  thy 
heart  to  ascend  step  by  step, 
and  wast  raised  up  from  glory 
to  the  unspeakable  glory  of 
the  Lord  our  God.  Beseech 
him,  that  he  save  and  en- 
lighten our  souls.. 

Leaving  thy  fishing  of  fish, 
thou  catchest  men  by  the  rod 
of  thy  preaching,  throwing  to 
them  the  bait  of  virtue,  and 
dragging  all  nations  from  the 
depths  of  error,  O  Andrew, 
the  Apostle,  brother  of  the 


perfectissima  ejus  Deitatis 
claritate  :  unde  et  praeco  et 
Apostolus  vocaris  Christi  Dei 
nostri  ;  quern  deprecare  sal- 
vare  et  illuminare  animas 
nostras. 


Prsecurrenti  voce  insonans, 
quando  omnisanctum  Ver- 
bum  caro  factum  est,  quando 
nobis  vitam  donavit,  salu- 
temque  in  terris  evangeliza- 
vit,  tunc,  sanctissime,  istud 
secutus  es,  et  teipsum  primi- 
tias  et  sacrincium  quasi  pri- 
mam  ipsi  oblationem  consti- 
tuisti :  quern  cognoscere 
fecisti,  fratrique  tuo  mon- 
strasti  Deum  nostrum  ;  hunc 
deprecare  salvare  animas 
nostras. 


Qui  carnem  e  sterili  flores- 
centi  induit,  quando  Virgi- 
nalisFilius  apparuit,  prsecep- 
tor  pietatis  puritatem  de- 
monstrans,  tunc  tu,  ardentis- 
sime  virtutis  amator,  Andrea, 
beatus  effectus  es  ;  ascensi- 
ones  in  tuo  corde  disponens, 
a  gloria  in  gloriam  subJimatus 
es  inauditam  Domini  Dei 
nostri  :  quem  deprecare  sal- 
vare et  illuminare  animas 
nostras. 

Piscium  piscationem  dere- 
linquens,  homines  carpis 
calamo  prsedicationis,  mit- 
tens hamum  pietatis,  et  ex- 
trahens  e  profundo  erroris 
omnes  Gentes,  Andrea  Apos- 
tole,  Coryphasi  frater,  et  terrse 


298 


ADVENT. 


dux  celeberrime,  excellens  et 
non  deficiens ;  tenebrosos 
homines  illustra  tua  vene- 
randa  memoria. 


Primovocatus  discipulus  et 
imitator  passionis  tuse,  assimi- 
latus  tibi,  Domine,  Andreas 
Apostolus  in  abysso  degentes 
ignorantiae  olimque  errantes, 
liamo  tuae  Crucis  cum  ab- 
straxisset,  tibimetipsi  ad- 
duxit :  et  ideo  salvati  fideles 
ad  te  clamamus  precibus 
illius,  optime  Domine,  vitam 
nostram  pacifica,  et  salva 
animas  nostras. 


Ignis  illuminans  mentes  et 
comburens  peccata,  in  corde 
interius  arripiens,  Apostolus 
Christi  discipulus  fulget 
mysticis  radiis  instructionum 
in  Gentium  tenebrosis  cordi- 
bus.  Urit  autem  iterum  sur- 
culosas  impiorum  fabulas ; 
ignis  enim  Spiritus  tantam 
habet  energiam  !  O  mirabili- 
ter  terribile !  Coenosa  lingua, 
fictilis  natura,  corpus  pulve- 
rinum,  intellect ualem  et  im- 
materialemprsebuit  Gnosim. 
Sed  tu,  0  initiate  rerum  inef- 
fabilium,  et  contemplator 
coelestium,  deprecare  illumi- 
nari  animas  nostras. 


Gaudeas,  disertum  ccelum, 
gloriam  Dei  passim  enarrans. 
Primus  Domino  obediens  ar- 


Leader,  most  honoured  Prince 
of  the  earth, excelling  and  un- 
failing !  may  the  venerable 
remembrance  of  thee  en- 
lighten them  that  are  in 
darkness. 

Andrew,  the  Apostle,  the 
first- called  of  thy  disciples, 
O  Lord,  and  the  imitator  of 
thy  Passion,  and  made  like 
to  thee,  drew  out  with  the 
hook  of  thy  Cross  them  that 
lived  and  wandered  in  the 
sea  of  ignorance,  and  then 
brought  them  unto  thee  : 
therefore  do  we  thy  faithful, 
who  have  been  saved,  cry  to 
thee  by  his  prayers,  O  in- 
finitely good  Lord  :  grant  us 
peaceful  lives,  and  save  our 
souls. 

The  Apostle,  disciple  of 
Christ,  is  a  fire  which  inflames 
men's  minds  and  burns  out 
their  sins,  penetrating  into 
the  very  depth  of  their 
hearts  :  and  by  the  mystic 
rays  of  his  instructions  he 
shines  in  the  d  ark  hearts  of  th  e 
Gentiles.  Then,  too,  he  burns 
the  wild  brambles  of  pagan 
f ables,for  the  fire  of  the  Spirit 
has  such  energy  !  And  is  it 
not  a  wonder  to  be  trembled 
at,  that  a  tongue  of  slime,  a 
nature  of  clay,  a  body  of  dust, 
should  make  known  the  in- 
tellectual and  the  immaterial 
Knowledge1?  Do  thou,  the 
initiated  into  unspeakable 
things,  the  contemplator  of 
heavenly  truths,  pray  that 
our  minds  be  illumined. 

Be  glad,  0  thou  heaven  of 
eloquence,  everywhere  telling 
the  glory  of  God  !     The  first 


NOV.    30.      ST.    ANDHEW,   APOSTLE. 


299 


to  obey  our  Lord  with  ardour, 
immediately  uniting  thyself 
to  him,  thou  wast  set  on  fire 
by  him,  and  didst  appear  as 
a  second  light,  enlightening 
with  thy  rays  them  that  sat 
in  darkness,  thus  imitating 
the  mercy  of  Jesus  for  man. 
Therefore  do  we  celebrate  thy 
most  holy  memory,  and  kiss 
with  great  joy  the  shrine  of 
thy  Relics,  from  which  flows 
health  and  every  sort  of  boon 
to  thy  clients. 

By  the  nets  of  thy  oracles 
thou  didst  draw  from  the 
abyss  of  ignorance  the  nations 
that  knew  not  God,  and 
gavest  them  life.  Like  the 
splendid  courser  of  the  Ruler 
of  the  Sea,  thou,  0  worthy  of 
all  praise,  didst  stir  up  the 
bitter  waves  by  thy  wisdom. 
Thou,  the  venerable  salt  of 
earth,  didst  season  with  thy 
penetrating  wisdom  what 
ungodliness  was  corrupting. 
This  thy  wisdom,  0  glorious 
Apostle,  struck  dumb  with 
admiration  those  who  had 
become  imbued  and  puffed 
up  with  an  unsound  wisdom, 
and  ignored  the  Lord  that 
showed  his  great  mercy  to 
the  world. 


denter  effectus,  ipsi  imme- 
diate adhserens,  ab  ipso  ac- 
census,  lumen  apparuisti 
alter um,  et  degentes  in  tene- 
bris  tuis  illuminasti  radiis, 
hanc  homini  benignitatem 
imitatus  :  unde  tuam  omni- 
sanctam  perficimus  laudem, 
et  Reliquiarum  thecam  cum 
gaudio  magno  deosculamur, 
ex  qua  scaturit  salus  peten- 
tibus  et  magna  misericordia. 


Gentes  nescientes  Deum 
quasi  ex  abysso  ignorantise 
vivas  carpsisti  sagenatnorum 
oraculorum,  salsaque  coin- 
moves  sequora  sapienter, 
equus  optimus  visus  Domina- 
toris  maris,  celebrande  ;  qui 
siccasti  putredinem  impie- 
tatis,  sal  honorandum,  spar- 
gens  sapientiam  tuam :  quam 
stupentes  admirati  _  sunt, 
Apostole  gloriose,  qui  male- 
sana  sapientia  inflati  amplexi 
erant,  ignorantes  Dominum 
donantem  mundo  magnam 
misericordiam. 


IN  THE  MOENING  OFFICE. 


Not  by  thirst  but  by  love 
wast  thou  urged,  O  Andrew, 
when  thou  didst  run,  as  a 
stag,  to  the  fountain  of  life. 
Leaning  on  faith,  thou  didst 
give  to  drink  of  the  fountains 
of  incorruption  to  the  distant 
nations  that  were  parched 
with  thirst. 


Accurristi  siti  non  vocatus, 
Andrea,  sed  voluntarie,  sicut 
cervus  ad  f ontem  vitse.  Fide 
innixus,  de  incorruptionis 
fontibus  siti  fatigatas  extre- 
mas  usque  regiones  potasti. 


300 


ADVENT. 


Cognovisti  naturae  leges, 
Andrea  admirande,  et  com- 
participern  accepisti  fratrem, 
damans :  Invenimus  Deside- 
ratum •  atque  ei  qui  iter 
fecerat  secundum  carnis  ge- 
nerationem,  accersisti  Spiri- 
tus  cognitionem. 


Yerbum  cum  dixisset :  Hie 
retro  mei,  Christum  alacer 
secutus  est  cum  Andrea  et 
Cephas,  genitori  valedicentes, 
et  navicular,  et  retibus,  tan- 
quam  fidei  propugnacula. 

Deifica  inexhaustaque  po- 
tentis  omnifactoris  atque 
flammantis  Spiritus  virtus  in 
te,  Andrea  divine,  inhabitans 
in  igneae  linguae  forma,  inef- 
fabilium  te  indicavit  praaco- 
nem. 

Non  arma  ad  defeusionem 
attulit  carnea,  et  ad  destruc- 
tionem  terribilium  inimici 
propugnaculorum,  Andreas 
honoratissimus;  sed  ad  Chris- 
tum loricatus,  quas  captivi- 
tate  redegerat  Gentes,  addux- 
it  submissas. 


Tuam  ineffabilem  pulchri- 
tudinem  Andreas  videns  pri- 
mus, Jesu,  fratrem  clara  voce 
vocavit  :  Petre  ardenter  de- 
siderans,  invenimus  Messiam, 
qui  in  Lege  et  in  Prophetis 
proclamatus  est ;  veni,  verse 
Vitas  agglutinemur. 


Hunc   pro    mercede  recu- 


Thou  didst  feel  the  law  of 
nature,  0  admirable  Andrew, 
and  thou  didst  take  thy  bro- 
ther into  partnership,  crying 
out  to  him  :  We  have  found 
the  Desired  One!  and  thus 
he  who  was  walking  in  the 
ways  of  the  flesh,  was  brought 
by  thee  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  Spirit. 

When  the  Word  said : 
Now,  folloiv  me,  Cephas  also 
joyfully  followed  Christ  with 
Andrew,  bidding  farewell  to 
father,  boat,  and  nets,  and 
became  the  citadels  of  the 
faith. 

The  deifying  and  exhaust- 
less  virtue  of  the  mighty 
Creator  of  all  things,  and  of 
the  burning  Spirit,  dwelt  in 
thee  in  the  form  of  a  fiery 
tongue  ;  showing  that  thou, 
O  divine  Andrew,  wast  a 
herald  of  unspeakable  things. 

Most  honoured  Andrew  ! 
he  bore  not  weapons  of  the 
flesh  for  his  defence,  or  for 
the  destruction  of  the  for- 
midable ramparts  of  the 
enemy  ;  but  with  a  breast- 
plate on  him,  he  led  subject 
to  Christ  the  nations  which 
had  been  redeemed  by  Christ 
from  captivity. 

Thy  ineffable  beauty,  O 
Jesus,  was  first  seen  by  An- 
drew, who  then  called  out 
with  a  loud  voice  to  his  bro- 
ther :  Peter,  he  said,  thou 
man  of  ardent  desires  !  we 
have  found  the  Messias, 
whom  the  Law  and  the  Pro- 
phets have  foretold.  O  come, 
let  us  cling  to  this  true  life. 

As  thy  reward,  0  Apostle, 


NOV.  30.      ST.  ANDREW,  APOSTLE. 


301 


Andrew,  thou  hast  regained 
him  whom  thou  desirest  : 
him,  with  whom  thou  didst 
bind  up  and  worthily  garner 
the  sheaves  of  thy  labours. 
Therefore  do  we  sing  to  thee 
our  hymns  of  praise. 

Thou  desiredst  the  Master, 
and  thou  hast  followed  him, 
walking  unto  life  in  his  foot- 
steps, and  imitating,  even 
unto  death,  his  passion,  O 
verily  venerable  Andrew  ! 

Calmly  sailing  the  sea  of 
the  spiritual  life,  O  Apostle, 
thou  didst  cross  it  with  the 
sails  of  the  Spirit  and  the 
faith  of  Christ.  Therefore 
didst  thou  enter  with  joy  in- 
to the  port  of  life  for  ever. 

The  spiritual  Sun  having, 
by  his  own  will,  sunk  on  the 
cross,  Andrew,  that  Sim's  re- 
flection, the  great  and  bright 
light  of  the  Church,  wishing 
also  to  be  dissolved  and  to 
set  with  Him,  was  hung  upon 
a  cross. 

As  the  best  of  all  the  dis- 
ciples of  Him,  who,  of  his 
own  will, was  fastened  to  the 
cross,  thou,  O  blessed  Apos- 
tle, following  thy  Master  even 
unto  death,  thou  didst  ascend 
with  joy  to  the  summit  of 
the  Cross,  showing  us  the 
way  that  leads  to  heaven. 

Kejoice  now,  O  Bethsaida! 
for  in  thee  and  thy  maternal 
fount  bloomed  the  two  most 
fragrant  lilies,  Peter  and  An- 
drew, bearing,  by  the  grace 
of  Christ,  whom  they  resem- 
bled in  his  passion,  the  odour 
of  the  preaching  of  the  faith 
to  the  whole  world. 


perasti  quern  desiclerabas, 
Andrea  Apostole,  ligatis  cum 
eolaborum  manipulis,tuisque 
digne  cum  eo  collectis  :  unde 
te  hymnis  glorihcamus. 


Magistrum  desiderasti,  et 
ilium  insecutus  es,  qui  illius 
vestigiis  ad  vitam  ambulasti, 
et  illius  passiones,  vere  hono- 
rande  Andrea,  usque  ad  mor- 
tem imitatus. 

Spiritualem  vitse  tranquille 
navigatus  abyssum,  Apostole, 
perambulasti  cum  velo  Spiri- 
tus,  fide  Christi :  ideoque  ad 
vitae  portum  pervenisti  gau- 
dens  in  cuncta  saecula. 

Spiritali  Sole  in  cruce  oc- 
cidenti  voluntate  propria, 
solis  jubar  cum  illo  quasrens 
dissolvi  et  occidere  in  Chris- 
tum, in  ligno  suspensus  est 
Andreas,  fax  magna  et  ful- 
gida  Ecciesiae. 

Yelut  discipulus  omnium 
optimus,  illius  qui  voluntarie 
affixus  est  Cruci,  magistrum 
tuum  usque  ad  mortem  secu- 
tus,  cum  gaudio  in  altitudi- 
nem  ascendisti  Crucis,  viam 
instruens  ad  coelos,  beate 
Apostole. 

Gaude  nunc,  Bethsaida ; 
in  te  enim  floruerunt  e  ma- 
terno  fonte  nimis  odorifera 
lilia,  Petrus  et  Andreas,  uni- 
verso  mundo  fidei  praedica- 
tionis  odorem  ferentes  gratia 
Christi,  cujus  passionibus 
communicaverunt. 


302  ADVENT. 

Te  patrum  ci vitas  pastorem  The  city  of  the  Fathers  pos- 

possidet,    et    divinum    prse-  sesses  thee  as  its  pastor,  and 

sidem,   et   periculorum    om-  its  divine  chief,  and  its  libe- 

nium  liberatorem,  et  custo-  rator  in  all  dangers,  and  its 

dem    te,    Andrea     sapiens ;  keeper,   O    Andrew  full   of 

gratanter  honoravit  te  :    sed  wisdom  !     Gratefully  has  it 

tu  deprecare  incessanter  pro  kept  thy  feast ;  but  do  thou 

ea,  lit  servetur  ab  omni  per-  unceasingly  pray  for  it,  that 

ditione.  it  may  be  preserved  from  all 

danger. 


The  Church  of  Constantinople,  so  devoted,  as  we 
have  seen,  to  the  glory  of  St.  Andrew,  was  at  length 
deprived  of  the  precious  treasure  of  his  Relics.  This 
happened  in  the  year  1210,  when  the  City  was  taken 
by  the  Crusaders.  Cardinal  Peter  of  Capua,  the 
Legate  of  the  Holy  See,  translated  the  body  of  St. 
Andrew  into  the  Cathedral  of  Amalfi,  a  town  in  the 
Kingdom  of  Naples,  where  it  remains  to  this  day, 
the  glorious  instrument  of  numberless  miracles,  and 
the  object  of  the  devout  veneration  of  the  people. 
It  is  well  known  how,  at  the  same  period,  the  most 
precious  Relics  of  the  Greek  Church  came,  by  a  visi- 
ble judgment  of  God,  into  the  possession  of  the 
Latins.  Byzantium  refused  to  accept  those  terrible 
warnings,  and  continued  obstinate  in  her  schism. 
She  was  still  in  possession  of  the  Head  of  the  holy 
Apostle,  owing,  no  doubt,  to  this  circumstance,  that 
in  the  several  Translations  which  had  been  made,  it 
had  been  kept  in  a  separate  reliquary  by  itself. 
When  the  Byzantine  Empire  was  destroyed  by  the 
Turks,  Divine  Providence  so  arranged  events,  as  that 
the  Church  of  Rome  should  be  enriched  with  this 
magnificent  Relic.  In  1462,  the  Head  of  St.  Andrew 
was,  therefore,  brought  thither  by  the  celebrated 
Cardinal  Bessarion  ;  and  on  the  twelfth  of  April  of 
that  same  year,  Palm  Sunday,  the  heroic  Pope  Pius 
II.  went  in  great  pomp  to  meet  it  as  far  as  the 
Bridge  Milvius  (Ponte  Molle),  and  then  placed  it  in 
the  Basilica  of  St.  Peter,  on  the  Vatican,  where  it  is 


NOV.    30.      ST.   ANDREW,   APOSTLE.  303 

at  present,  near  the  Confession  of  the  Prince  of  the 
Apostles.  At  the  sight  of  this  venerable  Head,  Pius 
II.  was  transported  with  a  religious  enthusiasm,  and 
before  taking  up  the  glorious  Relic  in  order  to  carry 
it  into  Rome,  he  pronounced  the  magnificent  address 
which  we  now  give,  as  a  conclusion  to  the  liturgical 
praises  given  by  the  several  Churches  to  St.  Andrew. 

"  At  length,  thou  hast  arrived,  O  most  holy  and 
"  venerable  Head  of  the  saintly  Apostle  !  The  fury 
"  of  the  Turks  has  driven  thee  from  thy  resting-place, 
"  and  thou  art  come  as  an  exile  to  thy  Brother,  the 
"  Prince  of  the  Apostles.  No,  thy  Brother  will  not 
"  fail  thee  ;  and  by  the  will  of  God,  the  day  shall 
"  come  when  men  shall  say  in  thy  praise :  0  happy 
"  banishment,  which  caused  thee  to  receive  such  a 
"  welcome  !  Meanwhile,  here  shalt  thou  dwell  with 
"  thy  Brother,  and  share  in  his  honours. 

"  This  is  Rome,  the  venerable  City,  which  was  de- 
"  dicated  by  thy  Brother's  precious  blood.  The  peo- 
"  pie  thou  seest,  are  they  whom  the  blessed  Apostle, 
"  thy  most  loving  Brother,  and  St.  Paul,  the  Vessel 
"  of  Election,  regenerated  unto  Christ  our  Lord. 
"  Thus  the  Romans  are  thy  kinsmen.  They  vene- 
"  rate,  and  honour,  and  love  thee  as  their  Father's 
"  Brother ;  nay,  as  their  second  Father  ;  and  are  con- 
"  fident  of  thy  patronage  in  the  presence  of  the  great 
"God. 

"'  0  most  blessed  Apostle  Andrew  !  thou  preacher 
"  of  the  truth,  and  defender  of  the  dogma  of  the 
"  most  Holy  Trinity  !  with  what  joy  dost  thou  not 
"  fill  us  on  this  day,  whereon  it  is  given  us  to  behold 
"  thy  sacred  and  venerable  Head,  which  deserved  that, 
"  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  the  Holy  Paraclete  should 
"  rest  upon  it  in  the  form  of  fire  ! 

"  O  ye  Christians  that  visit  Jerusalem  out  of  re- 
ference for  your  Saviour,  that  there  ye  may  see  the 
"  places  where  his  feet  have  stood ;  lo  !  here  is  the 


30  4  ADVENT. 

"throne  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Here  sat  the  Spirit  of 
"  the  Lord.  Here  was  seen  the  Third  Person  of  the 
"Trinity.  Here  were  the  eyes  that  so  often  saw 
"Jesus  in  the  flesh.  This  was  the  mouth  that  so 
"  often  spake  to  Jesus ;  and  on  these  cheeks  did  that 
"  same  Lord  doubtless  impress  his  sacred  kisses. 

"  O  wondrous  Sanctuary,  wherein  dwelt  charity, 
"  and  kindness,  and  gentleness,  and  spiritual  con- 
"  solation.  Who  could  look  upon  such  venerable 
"  and  precious  Relics  of  the  Apostle  of  Christ,  and 
"  not  be  moved  ?  and  not  be  filled  with  tender  de- 
"  votion  ?  and  not  shed  tears  for  very  joy  ?  Yea,  O 
"  most  admirable  Apostle  Andrew !  we  rejoice,  and 
"  are  glad,  and  exult,  at  this  thy  coming,  for  we 
"doubt  not  but  what  thou  tlryself  art  present  here, 
"  and  bearest  us  company  as  we  enter  with  thy  Head 
"  into  the  Holy  City. 

"  The  Turks  are  indeed  our  enemies,  as  being  the 
"  enemies  of  the  Christian  Religion ;  but  in  that 
"  they  have  been  the  occasion  of  thy  coming  amongst 
"  us,  we  are  grateful  to  them.  For,  what  greater 
"  blessing  could  have  befallen  us,  than  that  we  should 
"  be  permitted  to  see  thy  most  sacred  Head,  and 
"  that  our  Rome  should  be  filled  with  its  fragrance  ? 
"  Oh  !  that  we  could  welcome  thee  with  the  honours 
"  which  are  due  to  thee,  and  receive  thee  in  a  way 
"  becoming  thy  exceeding  holiness  !  But,  accept  our 
"  good  will,  and  our  sincere  desire  to  honour  thee, 
"  and  suffer  us  now  to  touch  thy  Relics  with  our  un- 
"  worthy  hands,  and,  though  sinners,  to  accompany 
"  thee  into  the  walls  of  the  City. 

"  Enter,  then,  the  Holy  City,  and  show  thy  love 
"  to  her  people.  May  thy  coming  be  a  boon  to 
"  Christendom.  May  thy  entrance  be  peaceful,  and 
"  thy  abode  amongst  us  bring  happiness  and  pros- 
"  perity.  Be  thou  our  advocate  in  heaven,  and, 
"  together  with  blessed  Apostles  Peter  and  Paul, 
"  defend  this  City,  and  protect,  with  thy  love,  all 


NOV.    30.      ST.  ANDREW,  APOSTLE.  305 

"  Christian  people ;  that,  by  thy  intercession,  the 
"  mercy  of  God  may  be  upon  us,  and  if  his  indignation 
"  be  enkindled  against  us  by  reason  of  our  manifold 
"  sins,  let  it  fall  upon  the  impious  Turks  and  the  pa- 
"  gan  nations  that  blaspheme  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
"  Amen." 

Thus  has  the  glory  of  St.  Andrew  been  blended, 
in  Rome,  with  that  of  St.  Peter.  But  the  Apostle  of 
the  Cross,  whose  feast  was  heretofore  kept,  in  many 
Churches,  with  an  Octave,  has  also  been  chosen  as 
Patron  of  one  of  the  Kingdoms  of  the  West.  Scot- 
land, when  she  was  a  Catholic  country,  had  put 
herself  under  his  protection.  May  he  still  exercise 
his  protection  over  her,  and,  by  his  prayers,  hasten 
her  return  to  the  true  faith ! 

Let  us  now,  in  union  with  the  Church,  pray  to  this 
holy  Apostle,  for  this  is  the  glorious  day  of  his  feast : 
let  us  pay  him  that  honour  which  is  due  to  him,  and 
ask  him  for  the  help  of  which  we  stand  in  need. 

We  have  scarce  begun  our  mystic  journey  of 
Advent,  seeking  our  divine  Saviour  Jesus,  when  lo ! 
God  grants  us  to  meet  thee,  O  blessed  Andrew,  at 
our  very  first  step.  When  Jesus,  our  Messias,  began 
his  public  life, thou  hadst  already  become  the  obedient 
disciple  of  his  Precursor,  who  preached  his  Coming : 
thou  wast  among  the  first  of  them  who  received 
the  Son  of  Mary  as  the  Messias  foretold  in  the  Law 
and  the  Prophets.  But  thou  couldst  not  keep  the 
heavenly  secret  from  him  who  was  so  dear  to  thee ; 
to  Peter,  then,  thou  didst  bear  the  Good  Tidings,  and 
didst  lead  him  to  Jesus. 

O  blessed  Apostle  !  we  also  are  louging  for  the 
Messias,  the  Saviour  of  our  souls ;  since  thou  hast 
found  him,  lead  us  also  unto  him.  We  place  under 
thy  protection  this  holy  period  of  expectation  and 
preparation,  which  is  to  bring  us  to  the  day  of  our 
Saviour's  Nativity,  that  divine  Mystery  in  which  he 

x 


306  ADVENT. 

will  manifest  himself  to  the  world.  Assist  us  to 
render  ourselves  worthy  of  seeing  him  on  that  great 
night.  The  baptism  of  Penance  prepared  thee  for 
receiving  the  grace  of  knowing  the  Word  of  life  ; 
pray  for  us  that  we  may  become  truly  penitent  and 
may  purify  our  hearts,  during  this  holy  time,  and 
thus  be  able  to  behold  Him,  who  has  said  :  Blessed 
are  the  clean  of  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God. 

Thou  hast  a  special  power  of  leading  souls  to  Jesus, 
O  glorious  Saint !  for  even  he,  who  was  to  be  made 
the  Pastor  of  the  whole  flock,  was  presented  to  the 
Messias  by  thee.  By  calling  thee  to  himself  on  this 
day,  our  Lord  has  given  thee  as  the  Patron  of 
Christians  who,  each  year,  at  this  season,  are  seeking 
that  God  in  whom  thou  art  now  living :  they  must 
begin  it  with  praying  to  thee  to  show  them  the  way 
which  leads  to  Jesus. 

Thou  teachest  us  this  way  ;  it  is  that  of  fidelity,  of 
fidelity  even  to  the  Cross.  In  that  way  thou  didst 
courageously  walk  :  and  because  the  Cross  leads  to 
Jesus  Christ,  thou  didst  passionately  love  the  Cross. 
Pray  for  us,  O  holy  Apostle  !  that  we  may  begin  to 
understand  this  love  of  the  Cross ;  and  that  having 
understood  it,  we  may  put  it  in  practice.  Thy  brother 
says  to  us  in  his  Epistle  :  Christ  having  suffered  in 
the  flesh,  be  you  also  armed  with  the  same  thought.1 
Thy  feast,  O  blessed  Andrew !  shows  us  thee  as  the 
living  commentary  of  this  doctrine.  Because  thy 
Master  was  crucified,  thou  would st  also  be  crucified. 
From  the  high  throne  to  which  thou  hast  been  raised 
by  the  Cross,  pray  for  us,  that  the  Cross  may  be  unto 
us  the  expiation  of  the  sins  which  are  upon  us,  the 
quenching  of  the  passions  which  burn  within  us,  and 
the  means  of  uniting  us  by  love  to  Him,  who,  through 
love  alone  for  us,  was  nailed  to  the  Cross. 

Important,  indeed,  and  precious  are  these  lessons 

1  I.  St.  Pet.  iv.  l. 


NOV.   30.      ST.   ANDREW,   APOSTLE.  307 

of  the  Cross  ;  but  the  Cross,  O  blessed  Apostle,  is  the 
perfection  and  the  consummation,  and  not  the  first 
commencement.  It  is  the  Infant  God,  it  is  the  God 
of  the  Crib  that  we  must  first  know  and  love ;  it  was 
the  Lamb  of  God  that  St.  John  pointed  out  to  thee  ; 
and  it  is  that  Lamb  whom  we  so  ardently  desire  to 
contemplate.  The  austere  and  awful  time  of  Jesus' 
Passion  is  not  come  ;  we  are  now  in  Advent.  Fortify 
us  for  the  day  of  combat;  but  the  grace  we  now 
most  need,  is  compunction  and  tender  love.  We  put 
under  thy  patronage  this  great  work  of  our  prepara- 
tion for  the  Coming  of  Jesus  into  our  hearts. 

Remember  also,  O  blessed  Andrew,  the  holy 
Church,  of  which  thou  wast  a  pillar,  and  which  thou 
hast  beautified  by  the  shedding  of  thy  blood :  lift 
up  thy  hands  for  her  to  Him,  whose  battle  she  is 
for  ever  fighting.  Pray  that  the  Cross  she  has  to 
bear  in  this  her  pilgrimage,  may  be  lightened ;  that 
she  may  love  this  Cross,  and  that  it  may  be  the 
source  of  her  power  and  her  glory.  Remember  with 
especial  love  the  holy  Roman  Church,  the  Mother 
and  Mistress  of  all  Churches ;  and  by  reason  of  that 
fervent  love  she  has  for  thee,  obtain  for  her  victory 
and  peace  by  the  Cross.  Visit  anew,  in  thy  Apostolic 
zeal,  the  Church  of  Constantinople,  which  has  for- 
feited true  light  and  unity,  because  she  would  not 
render  homage  to  Peter,  thy  brother,  whom  thou 
honouredst  as  thy  Chief,  out  of  love  to  Him  who  is 
the  common  Master  of  both  him  and  thee.  And 
lastly,  pray  for  Scotland,  that  has  dishonoured  thy 
protection  for  these  three  past  ages  ;  obtain  for  her 
that  the  days  of  her  rebellion  from  the  faith  may  be 
shortened,  and,  with  the  rest  of  our  Isle  of  Saints, 
soon  return  to  the  fold  of  the  One  Shepherd. 

We  will  close  this  day  with  a  prayer  to  the 
Saviour,  whom  we  are  expecting  ;  and  celebrate,  by 
this  ancient  and  venerable  Hymn,  the  mystery  of 
his  Coming. 


308 


ADVENT, 


HYMN  FOE  THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 


{The  Mozarabic  Breviary :  in  the  Hymnarium.) 


Gaudete,  flores  Martyrum ! 
Salvete,  plebes  gentium, 
Visum  per  astra  mittite, 
Sperate  signum  glorise. 

Voces  Prophetarum  sonant, 
Venire  Jesum  nuntiant, 
Kedemptionis  prsevia 
Qua3  nos  redemit  gratia. 


Hie    mane    nostrum  pro- 
micat. 
Et  corda  lseta  exaestuant, 
Cum  vox  fidelis  personat 
Praenuntiatrix  gloriam. 

Tantae  salutis  gaudium, 
Quo  est   redemptum   saecu- 

lum, 
Exceptionis  inclytum 
Abhinc  ciamus  canticum. 

Adventus  hie  primus  fuit, 
Punire  quo  non  saeculi 
Venit,  sed  ulcus  tergere, 
Salvando  quod  perierat. 

At  hunc  secundus  praemo- 
net, 
Adesse  Christum  januis 
Sanctis  coronas  reddere, 
Ccelique  regna  pandere. 


iEterna  lux  promittitur, 
Sidusque  salvans  promitur  ; 
Jam  nos  jubar  praefulgidum 
Ad  jus  vocat  ccelestium. 


Te,  Christe,   solum  quaeri- 
mus 


Rejoice,  ye  Flowers  of  the 
Martyrs  !  Hail,  all  ye  people 
and  nations  !  lift  up  your 
eyes  to  heaven,  and  await  the 
sign  of  glory. 

The  voice  of  the  Prophets 
is  heard,  announcing  the 
coming  of  Jesus  ;  it  is  the 
harbinger  of  our  Redemp- 
tion, of  the  grace  which 
saved  us. 

How  bright  is  our  morn, 
and  how  do  our  hearts  swell 
with  joy,  when  the  faithful 
voice  comes  heralding  in  our 
glory ! 

May  the  joy  of  so  great  a 
salvation,  whereby  the  world 
is  redeemed,  inspire  us  with 
a  solemn  canticle  in  praise  of 
Jesus'  coming. 

It  was  his  first :  and  he 
came  not  to  punish,  but  to 
heal  the  sores  and  sins  of  the 
world,  saving  his  creature 
that  was  lost. 

But  when  the  second 
Advent  comes,  it  will  tell 
the  world  that  Christ  is  at 
its  very  doors,  to  give  the 
Saints  their  crowns,  and 
throw  open  the  kingdom  of 
heaven. 

We  have  a  promise  of 
eternal  light ;  the  star  of 
our  salvation  is  rising ;  and 
even  now  its  splendid  rays 
are  calling  us  to  our  right  to 
heaven. 

Thee  alone,  0  Jesus,  do 
we  seek,  and    wish    to  see 


NOV.    30.      ST.   ANDREW,   APOSTLE. 


309 


thee  as  thou  art,  God. 
Happy  vision,  which  will 
put  us  out  of  all  reach  of 
hell. 

That  thus,  when  thou 
comest,  O  Redeemer,  sur- 
rounded by  the  white- robed 
army  of  Martyrs,  thoumayest 
admit  us  also  into  their  pure 
company. 

To  God  the  Father,  and 
to  his  Only  Son,  and  to  the 
Holy  Paraclete,  be  glory 
both  now  and  for  ever. 
Amen. 


Videre  sicut  es  Deus, 
Ut  lseta  nos  hasc  visio 
Evellat  omni  tartaro. 

Quo  dum  Redemptor  ve- 
neris, 
Cum  candidato  Martyrum 
Globo  adunes  ccelibi 
Nos  tunc  beato  ccetui. 

Deo  Patri  sit  gloria, 
Ejusque  soli  Filio, 
Cum  Spiritu  Paraclito, 
Et  nunc  et  in  perpetuum. 


310  ADVENT. 


FIRST  DAY  OF  DECEMBER. 


The  Church  of  Rome  does  not  keep  this  day  as  a 
feast  of  any  Saint ;  she  simply  recites  the  Office  of 
the  Feria,  unless  it  happen  that  the  first  Sunday  of 
Advent  fall  on  this  first  day  of  the  month,  in  which 
case,  the  Office  of  that  Sunday  is  celebrated,  as  given 
above  in  the  Proper  of  the  Time. 

But  should  this  first  day  of  December  be  a  simple 
Feria  of  Advent,  we  shall  do  well  to  begin  at  once  our 
considerations  upon  the  preparations  which  were  made 
for  the  merciful  Coming  of  the  Saviour  of  the  world. 

Four  thousand  years  of  expectation  preceded  that 
Coming,  and  they  are  expressed  by  the  four  weeks  of 
Advent,  which  we  must  spend  before  we  come  to  the 
glorious  festivity  of  our  Lord's  Nativity.  Let  us 
reflect  upon  the  holy  impatience  of  the  Saints  of  the 
Old  Testament,  and  how  they  handed  down,  from 
age  to  age,  the  grand  hope,  which  was  to  be  but 
hope  to  them,  since  they  were  not  to  see  it  realised. 
Let  us  follow,  in  thought,  the  long  succession  of  the 
witnesses  of  the  promise  :  Adam,  and  the  first  Patri- 
archs, who  lived  before  the  deluge;  then,  Noah, 
Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob,  and  the  twelve  Patriarchs  of 
the  Hebrew  people ;  then  Moses,  Samuel,  David, 
and  Solomon;  then,  the  Prophets  and  the  Macha- 
bees  ;  and,  at  last,  John  the  Baptist  and  his  disciples. 
These  are  the  holy  ancestors,  of  whom  the  book  of 
Ecclesiasticus  speaks,where  it  says :  Let  us  praise  men 
of  renown,  and  our  fathers  in  their  generation  ;x 
and  of  whom  the  Apostle  thus  speaks  to  the  Hebrews : 
All  these  being  approved  by  the  testimony  of  faith, 

3  Eccles.  xliv.  1. 


DECEMBER  FIRST.  311 

received  not  the  promise  ;  God  providing  some  better 
thing  for  us,  that  they  should  not  be  perfected  with- 
out us :  their  faith  was  tried  and  approved,  and  yet 
they  received  not  the  object  of  the  promises  made  to 
them.  It  was  for  us  that  God  had  reserved  the  stu- 
pendous gift,  and  therefore  did  not  permit  them  to 
attain  the  object  of  their  desires.1 

Let  us  honour  them  for  their  faith  ;  let  us  honour 
them  as  our  veritable  fathers,  since  it  was  in  reward 
of  their  faith,  that  our  Lord  remembered  and  fulfilled 
his  merciful  promise  ;  let  us  honour  them,  too,  as 
the  ancestors  of  the  Messias  in  the  flesh.  We  may 
imagine  each  of  them  saying,  as  he  lay  on  his  dying 
bed,  this  solemn  prayer  to  him  who  alone  could 
conquer  death  :  I  will  look  for  thy  Salvation,  0 
Lord  !  It  was  the  exclamation  of  Jacob,  at  his  last 
hour,  when  he  was  pronouncing  his  prophetic  bless- 
ings on  his  children  :  and  then,  says  the  Scripture, 
he  drew  up  his  feet  upon  his  bed,  and  died,  and  he 
was  gathered  unto  his  people.2 

Thus  did  all  these  holy  men,  in  quitting  this  life, 
go  to  await,  far  from  the  abode  of  eternal  light,  Him 
who  was  to  come  in  due  time,  and  re-open  the  gate 
of  heaven.  Let  us  contemplate  them  in  this  place 
of  expectation,  and  give  our  grateful  thanks  to  God, 
who  has  brought  us  to  his  admirable  Light,  without 
requiring  us  to  pass  through  a  Limbo  of  darkness. 
It  is  our  duty  to  pray  ardently  for  the  Coming  of  the 
Deliverer,  who  will  break  down,  by  his  Cross,  the 
gates  of  the  prison,  and  will  fill  it  with  the  bright- 
ness of  his  glory.  During  this  holy  season,  the 
Church  is  continually  borrowing  the  fervent  expres- 
sions of  these  Fathers  of  the  Christian  people, 
making  them  her  own  prayer  for  the  Messias  to 
come.  Let  us  turn  to  those  great  Saints,  and  beg  of 
them  to  pray,  that  our  work  of  preparation  for  Jesus' 
coming  to  our  hearts,  may  be  blessed  by  God. 
1  Heb.  xi.  39,  40.  2  Gen.  xlix.  32. 


312 


ADVENT. 


We  will  make  use,  for  this  end,  of  the  beautiful 
hymn  wherein  the  Greek  Church  celebrates  the  me- 
mory of  all  the  Saints  of  the  Old  Testament,  on  the 
Sunday  immediately  preceding  the  Feast  of  Christ- 
mas. 


HYMN  FOR  THE  FEAST  OF  THE  HOLY  FATHERS. 

{Taken  from  the  Mencea  of  the  Greeks.) 


Avorum  hodie,  Fideles, 
perficientes  memorias,  re- 
hymnificemus  Christum  Re- 
demptorem,  qui  illos  magni- 
ficavit  in  omnibus  gentibus, 
et  qui  incredibilia  in  eis  per 
fidem  operatus  est ;  Domi- 
num,  utpote  fortem  et  po 
tentem  ;  et  ex  illis  manifes- 
tavit  virgam  potentiae  nobis, 
unicam  virum  nescientem  et 
Deiparam,  Mariam  castam, 
ex  qua  flos  prodiit.  Christus 
germinans  omnibus  vitain,  et 
salutem  aeternani. 

Tu  es  qui  sanctos  pueros 
ex  igne  liberasti,  Domine, 
et  ex  ore  leonum  Daniel ; 
qui  Abraham  benedixisti,  et 
Isaac  servum  tuum,  et  filium 
ejus  Jacob,  qui  dignatus  es 
ex  illorum  semine  nasci  apud 
nos  ut  prius  lapsos  salvares 
proavos  nostros,  crucifigi 
autem  et  sepeliri  :  et  rupisti 
mortis  vincula,  et  consur- 
gere  facis  omnes  qui  a  seculo 
inter  mortuos  erant,  adoran- 
tes  tuum,  Christe,  regnum 
aeternum. 


Adam  primum  veneremur, 
manu  honoratum  Creatoris 


Celebrating,  O  ye  faithful, 
on  this  day,  the  memory  of  the 
ancient  Fathers,  let  us  sing 
a  new  hymn  to  our  Redeemer 
Christ,  who  magnified  them 
in  all  nations,  and  worked 
incredible  things  in  them  by 
faith,  for  he  is  "the  strong 
and  mighty  Lord.  By  them 
did  he  manifest  to  us  the 
sceptre  of  his  power,  the  un- 
paralleled Virgin-Mother  of 
God,  the  chaste  Mary,  from 
whom  came  the  Flower  that 
buds  forth  life  and  eternal 
salvation  to  all,  Christ. 

It  was  thou,  O  Lord,  that 
didst  deliver  the  holy  Chil- 
dren from  the  furnace,  and 
Daniel  from  the  mouth  of 
the  lions  ;  that  didst  bless 
Abraham,  and  Isaac  thy  ser- 
vant, and  Jacob  his  son ;  that 
didst  vouchsafe  to  be  born 
among  us  from  their  seed, 
so  to  save  our  first  parents 
who  had  fallen,  and  to  be 
crucified  and  buried  ;  that 
didst  break  the  bonds  of 
death,  and  gavest  resurrec- 
tion to  all  them  who  had  died 
from  the  beginning,  and  who 
adored,  O  Christ,  thy  eternal 
kingdom. 

And  first  let  us  venerate 
Adam,  who  was  honoured  by 


DECEMBER   FIRST. 


313 


the  Creator's  hand,  and  was 
the  first  father  of  us  all :  who 
now  dwells  in  the  heavenly- 
tabernacles,  and  rests  amidst 
the  holy  elect. 

The  God  and  the  Lord  of 
all  things  received  Abel,  who 
offered  his  gifts  with  a  gene- 
rous heart  ;  and  took  him 
into  the  heavenly  light  as  a 
divine  Martyr,  when  he  was 
slain  by  the  murderer's  hand. 

Seth  is  celebrated  through- 
out the  world  for  his  ardour 
towards  the  Creator :  who 
saved  him  for  his  irreproach- 
able life  and  this  holy  dis- 
position of  mind  ;  and  now, 
in  the  region  of  the  living, 
he  sings  :  Holy  art  thou,  O 
Lord  ! 

Enos,  prophetically  called 
the  admirable,  for  his  words 
and  voice  and  heart,  hoped 
in  spirit  in  the  Lord  of  all, 
and  after  a  life  spent  on  earth 
in  exceeding  goodness,  he 
departed  full  of  glory. 

Let  us  praise,  in  our  sacred 
canticles  and  prayers,  the 
blessed  Henoch  ;  who,  when 
he  had  pleased  God,  was 
translated  to  glory,  and,  as 
became  so  faithful  a  servant 
of  God,  without  being  over- 
come by  death,  as  it  is  writ- 
ten of  him. 

Let  us  give  praise  to 
God  by  celebrating,  with  our 
hymns,  Noah,  who  was  just : 
in  all  things,  God  honoured 
him  with  his  divine  com- 
mands, and  he  was  well- 
pleasing  to  Christ,  to  whom 
let  us  sing  with  faith  :  Glory 
be  to  thy  power,  0  Lord  ! 


et  omnium  nostrum  proa- 
yum,  jam  nunc  habitantem 
in  ccelestibus  tabernaculis, 
inter  sanctos  electos  quies- 
centem. 

Abel  dona  proferentem 
mente  generosa,  admisit  om- 
nium Deus  et  Dominus  ; 
eumque  homicida  olim  manu 
peremptum,  in  altum  recepit 
ad  lumen,  ut  divinum  Mar- 
tyrem. 

Canitur  in  mundo  Seth 
pro  suo  erga  Creatorem  ar- 
dore :  nam  in  irreprehensibili 
vitae  ratione  et  animse  dis- 
positione  ilium  vere  sanavit  ; 
et  in  regione  vivorum  cla- 
mat :  Sanctus  es,  Domine. 


Ore  et  lingua  et  corde  Enos 
admirabilis  cognominatus 
prophetice,  in  omnium  Do- 
niinum  speravit  in  spiritu,  et 
optime  vita  in  terns  acta, 
gloriosus  decessit. 

Sacris  eloquiis  et  orationi- 
bus  Henoch  beatum  prsedice- 
mus  ;  qui,  cum  Deo  placu- 
isset,  translatus  est  in  glo- 
riam,  visus,  ut  fertur,  mor- 
tem superasse,  sicut  Dei 
servus  fidelissimus. 


Laudem  proferamus  Deo, 
honorantes  melodiis  Noe, 
qui  fuit  Justus  :  in  omnibus 
enim  divinis  mandatis  orna- 
tus,  visus  est  Christo  bene- 
placitus  ;  cui  canamus  cum 
fide  :  Gloria  virtuti  tuse,  Do- 
mine. 


314 


ADVENT. 


Videns  tuam  Deus  nobi- 
lem  indoleru  et  mentis  tua? 
sinceritatem,  et  te  in  omni- 
bus, Noe,  perfectum,  secundi 
mundi  ducem  te  signat,  sal- 
vantem  ex  omni  gen  ere  con- 
tra diluvium,  sensibile  se- 
men, ut  ipse  mandaverat. 

Noe,  Dei  legem  incorrup- 
tam  servantem,  justumque 
inventum  in  generatione  sua, 
et  qui  lignea  salvavit  olim  in 
area  irrationabilia  genera,  or- 
dinatione  omnimoda,  beatum 
piis  prsedicemus  hyninis. 

Vinum  compunctionis  nobis 
scaturire  facit  honorantibus 
te,  Noe  beate,  memoria  tua, 
lsetificans  et  amnias  et  corda 
undique  beatificantium  sin- 
cere mores  tuos  honestos,  et 
divinam  agendi  rationem. 

Laudibus  honoretur  Sem, 
qui  fructifieare  fecit  pater- 
nam  benedictionem,  et  ante 
Deum  placidus  demonstra- 
te, et  proavorum  clioris  ad- 
scriptus,  et  in  regione  vivo- 
rum  lastantissiine  requies- 
cens. 

Yidere  meruit,  tamquam 
Dei  amicus,  Abraham  diem 
Creatoris  sui,  plenus  factus 
lsetitiee  paternse  :  liunc  ergo 
recto  corde  honorantes,  bea- 
tum dicamus  omnes,  ut  Dei 
fidelem  servum. 


Vidisti,  ut  homini  videre 
fas  est,  Trinitatem,  et  illam 
hospitatus  es  :  unde  merce- 
dem  recepisti  hospitalitatis, 


God  seeing  thy  noble  heart, 
and  the  sincerity  of  thy  mind, 
and  how  in  all  things  thou 
wast  perfect,  O  Noah,  he 
makes  thee  the  Father  of  the 
second  world,  and  bids  thee 
save  from  the  deluge  a  rem- 
nant of  every  species  of  ani- 
mal. 

Let  us  in  our  holy  hymns 
praise  Noah,  who  kept  the 
law  of  God  without  reproof, 
and  was  found  just  in  his 
generation,  and  who,  by 
an  admirable  arrangement, 
saved,  in  the  wooden  ark,  all 
the  brute  creation. 

Thy  memory,  O  blessed 
Noah,  fills  us  with  the  wine 
of  compunction,  which  glad- 
dens our  souls  and  hearts, 
whilst  we  devoutly  extol  thy 
holy  life  and  thy  divine  man- 
ner of  acting. 

Sem  is  worthy  of  our 
praise,  who  brought  forth 
plentiful  fruit  from  his 
father's  blessing,  and  by  his 
meekness  found  favour  with 
God,  and  was  numbered  in 
the  choir  of  the  Fathers,  and 
now  rests  in  perfect  joy  in 
the  land  of  the  living. 

Abraham  merited,  as  the 
friend  of  God,  to  see  the  day 
of  his  Creator,  and  was  filled 
with  the  joy  promised  to  the 
Fathers  :  him,  therefore,  let 
us  honour  with  sincere  devo- 
tion, and  let  us  all  proclaim 
him  the  blessed  Abraham, 
God's  faithful  servant. 

Thou  didst  see,  as  far  as  it 
is  permitted  man  to  see,  the 
Trinity,  and  thou  didst  make 
it  thy  guest :  wherefore  thou 


DECEMBEE   FIKST. 


315 


receivedst  the  reward  of  thy 
hospitality,  and  wast  made 
the  Father,  in  the  faith,  of 
countless  nations. 

Most  blessed  Isaac,  the 
divine  wisdom  made  thee 
the  type  of  Jesns  in  his  Pas- 
sion, when  thy  fathers  sub- 
lime faith  led  thee  to  the 
sacrifice :  therefore  art  thou 
blest,  and  loved  of  God  as  a 
most  faithful  friend,  and 
seated  on  a  throne  with  all 
the  just. 

Of  all  the  servants  of  God 
Jacob  was  the  most  faithful  : 
therefore  was  it  that  he 
wrestled  with  the  Angel, 
seeing  God  in  spirit,  and  his 
name  was  changed ;  and  as 
he  slept,  he  beheld  the  divine 
ladder,  on  which  God  was 
leaning  ;  it  was  God,  assum- 
ing to  himself,  in  his  mercy, 
human  flesh. 

Joseph,  when  he  lovingly 
obeyed  his  father,  was  let 
down  into  a  well  and  sold, 
and  was  the  prototype  of 
Him  that  was  sacrificed,  and 
thrown  down  into  a  pit.  He 
gave  corn  to  Egypt  and  saved 
it ;  he  was  wise  and  just,  and 
a  most  true  king  over  his 
passions. 

Job  lawfully  endured  the 
combat  of  ceaseless  tempta- 
tions, and  deserves  to  be 
praised  ;  he  was  God's  most 
true  servant,  he  was  meek, 
and  a  man  without  guile, 
upright,  perfect,  without  re- 
proof, ever  saying  :  Blessed 
art  thou,  O  God  ! 

Let  us  faithfully  honour 
Moses,  and  Aaron,  and  Hor  : 


factus  immensarum  gentium 
in  fide  pater. 


Typus  Christi  passionis 
factus  es  sapienter,  Isaac 
beatissime,  patris  bona  fide 
ad  immolandum  adducte  : 
ideoque  beatus  effectus  es  et 
amicus  Dei  visus  es  fidelissi- 
mus,  et  cum  omnibus  justis 
sedem  consecutus  es. 


Visus  est  Jacob  omnium 
Dei  servorum  fidelissimus  : 
ideoque  pugnavit  cum  An- 
gelo,  in  mente  videns  Deum, 
et  nomen  mutavit,  dormi- 
ensque  divinam  contemplatus 
est  scalam,  cui  insidebat 
Deus,  carni  in  bonitate  sua 
adherens. 


Patris  obedientiam  cum 
amore  amplectens  Joseph  in 
puteum  demissus,  tamquam 
illius  prototypus  venditur 
qui  immolatus  est,  et  in  pu- 
teum demissus  est  Christus  ; 
et  iEgypto  frumenta  distri- 
buens  monstratus  est,  sa- 
piens et  Justus  effectus,  rex- 
que  concupiscentiarum  ve- 
rissimus. 

Legitime  incessantium  cer- 
tamini  tentationum  luctatus, 
celebratus  est  Job  Dei  servus 
verissimus,  mitis,  vir  sine 
malitia,  rectus,  perfectus, 
irreprehensibilis,  damans  : 
Benedictus  es,  Deus. 


In  fide  Moysen  Aaron  que 
et    Hor    honoremus,    adhuc 


316 


ADVENT. 


celebrantes  Josue  et  Levi 
sanctissimum,  Gedeonque  et 
Samson,  et  clamemus  :  Deus 
Patrum,  benedictus  es. 

Phalangem  Deo  gratam  di- 
vinorum  Patrum  celebremus, 
Baruch  et  Nathan,  et  Eleazar- 
um,  Josiam  et  David,  Jephte, 
Samuel  qui  anteacta  videbat, 
et  clamabat :  Benedicat  om- 
nis  creatura  Dominum. 


Laudem  melodise  Dei  Pro- 
phetis  feramus,  celebrantes 
Osee,  Michseam,  Sophoniam 
et  Habacum,  Zachariam, 
Jonam,  Aggseum  et  Amos, 
et  cum  Abdia,  Malachia, 
IS  ahum,  Isaiam,  et  Jeremiam, 
et  Ezechiel,  et  simul  Daniel, 
Eliam  et  Elisseum. 

Fortitudine  tua,  Domine, 
virtutes  operatae  sunt  sorores 
nostras,  Anna,  Judith  et  Deb- 
bora,  Olda,  Jahelque,  et 
Esther,  Sara,  Maria  Moysis, 
et  Kachel,  et  Rebecca,  et 
Ruth,  magnanimes. 

Venite  omnes,  cum  fide 
panegyrim  dicamus  Patri- 
bus  ante  Legem  :  Abraha?, 
et  eorum  qui  cum  illo  sunt 
festivam  memoriam  celebre- 
mus ;  Judse  tribum  digne 
honoremus  ;  Juvenes  in 
Babylone  qui  flammam  in 
camino  extinxerunt,  ut  Tri- 
nitatis  typum,  cum  Daniele 
celebremus  ;  Prophetarum 
vaticinia  tuto  servantes,  cum 
Isaia  magna  voce  clamemus  : 
Ecce  Virgo  in  utero  concipiet 


let  us  commemorate  Josue, 
and  the  most  holy  Levi,  and 
Gedeon,  and  Samson  ;  and 
let  us  sing  :  Blessed  art  thou, 
O  God  of  our  Fathers  ! 
Let  us  celebrate  the  memory 
of  that  group  of  Fathers  so 
loved  of  God,  Baruch  and 
Nathan  and  Eleazar ;  Josias, 
David,  Jephte,  and  Samuel 
who  had  the  vision  of  what 
had  passed,  and  cried  out  : 
Let  every  creature  bless  the 
Lord! 

Let  our  melodies  praise 
God's  Prophets,  celebrating 
Osee,  Micheas,  Sophonias, 
Habacuc,  Zacharias,  Jonas, 
Aggeus,  Amos,  Abdias,  Ma- 
lachias,  Nahum,  Isaias,  Jere- 
mias,  Ezechiel,  Daniel,  Elias, 
and  Eliseus. 

By  thy  power,  O  Lord, 
virtuous  exploits  were 
achieved  by  those  mag- 
nanimous women,  our  sisters, 
Anne,  Judith,  Debbora,  Olda, 
Jahel,  Esther,  Sara,  Mary, 
sister  of  Moses,  Rachel,  Re- 
becca and  Ruth. 

Come  all  ye  people,  let  us, 
with  faith,  give  praise  to  the 
Fathers  who  were  before  the 
Law  ;  let  us  celebrate  the 
festive  memory  of  Abraham 
and  them  that  are  with  him  ; 
let  us  give  due  honour  to  the 
tribe  of  Juda ;  let  us  celebrate 
the  Children  who  quenched 
the  fiery  furnace  in  Babylon, 
the  blessed  Three,  the  type 
of  the  Trinity,  and  with  them 
Daniel  ;  let  us  hold  fast  to 
the  oracles  of  the  Prophets, 


DECEMBER   FIRST. 


317 


and  with  Isaias  sing  with  a 
loud  voice  :  Lo  !  a  Virgin 
shall  conceive  in  her  womb 
and  shall  bring  forth  a  Son, 
Emmanuel,  that  is,  God  with 
us. 


et  pariet  filium,  Emmanuel, 
quod  est,  Nobiscum  Deus. 


A  RESPONSORY   OF  ADVENT. 


(The  Roman  Breviary,  First  Sunday  of  Advent,  at  Matins.) 


1$.  Looking  afar  off,  lo  !  I 
see  the  power  of  God  coming 
and  a  cloud  that  covereth  the 
whole  earth  :  *  Go  ye  out  to 
meet  him  and  say  :  *  Tell  us, 
if  thou  be  he,  *Who  art  to 
rule  over  the  people  of  Israel. 

OF.  All  ye  that  are  earth- 
born  and  children  of  men, 
both  rich  and  poor  together, 

*  Go  ye  out  to  meet  him, 
and  say : 

$".  Give  ear,  0  thou  that 
rulest  Israel,  thou  that  lead- 
est  Joseph  like  a  sheep, 

*  Tell  us  if  thou  be  he? 

$".  Lift  up  your  gates,  O 
ye  princes  ;  and  be  ye  lifted 
up,  O  eternal  gates  :  and  the 
King  of  Glory  shall  enter  in. 

*  Who  art  to  rule  over  the 
people  of  Israel. 


1$.  Adspiciens  a  longe,  ecce 
video  potentiam  Dei  venien- 
tem  et  nebulam  totam  ter- 
rain tegentem  :  *  Ite  obviam 
ei,  et  dicite  :  *  Nuncia  nobis 
si  tu  es  ipse,  *  Qui  regnatu- 
rus  es  in  populo  Israel. 

y.  Quique  terrigense  et 
filii  hominum,  simul  in  unum 
dives  et  pauper, 

*  Ite  obviam  ei  et  dicite, 

"ft.  Qui  regis  Israel  intende, 
qui  deducis  velut  ovem 
Joseph, 

*  Nuncia  nobis  si  tu  es 
ipse. 

"ft.  Tollite  portas,  princi- 
pes,  vestras,  et  elevamini, 
portse  aeternales,  et  introibit 
Rex  glorias. 

*  Qui  regnaturus  es  in  po- 
pulo Israel. 


318  ADVENT. 


December  2. 
SAINT  BIBIANA,  VIRGIN  AND  MARTYR. 


Or  the  Saints,  whose  feasts  are  kept  during  Advent, 
five  are  Virgins.  The  first,  St.  Bibiana,  whom  we 
honour  to-day,  is  a  daughter  of  Rome ;  the  second, 
St.  Barbara,  is  the  glory  of  the  Eastern  Churches  ; 
the  third,  St.  Eulalia  of  Merida,  is  one  of  Spain's 
richest  treasures ;  the  fourth,  St.  Lucy,  belongs  to 
beautiful  Sicily ;  the  fifth,  St.  Odila,  is  claimed  by 
France.  These  five  wise  Virgins  lighted  their  lamps 
and  watched,  waiting  for  the  coming  of  the  Spouse. 
Such  was  their  constancy  and  fidelity,  that  four  of 
them  shed  their  blood  for  the  love  of  Him,  after 
whom  they  longed.  Let  us  take  courage  by  this 
noble  example  ;  and  since  we  have  not,  as  the  Apostle 
expresses  it,  as  yet  resisted  unto  blood,  let  us  not 
think  it  hard  if  we  suffer  fatigue  and  trouble  in  the 
holy  exercises  of  this  penitential  season  of  Advent : 
He,  for  whom  we  do  them  all,  will  soon  be  with 
us  and  repay  us.  To-day,  it  is  the  chaste  and 
courageous  Bibiana,  who  instructs  us  by  her  glorious 
example. 


Bibiana,    Virgo   Roman  a,  Bibiana  was  a  Roman  Vir- 

nobili    genere    nata,    Chris-  gin,  noble  by  birth,  but  more 

tiana  fide  nobilior  fuit.  Ejus  noble  by  her  profession   of 

enim    pater    Flavianus    sub  the    Christian   faith.       For, 

Juliano  Apostata  impiisimo  under  the  most  wicked  ty- 

tyranno     exprsefectus,     ser-  rant    Julian   the    Apostate, 

vilibusque    notis    compunc-  Flavian,  her  father,  was  de- 

tus,  ad  Aquas  Taurinas  de-  prived  of  his  dignity  of  pre- 

portatus,    martyr    occubuit.  feet,  and  being  branded  with 


DEC.    2.      ST.    BIBIANA. 


319 


the  mark  of  slavery,  he  was 
banished  to  Aquae  Taurinae, 
and  there  died  a  martyr.  Her 
mother,  Dafrosa,  was  first 
shut  up  in  her  own  house 
with  her  daughters,  that  she 
might  die  by  starvation  ;  but 
shortly  afterwards  was  ba- 
nished from  Rome  and  be- 
headed. The  virtuous  parents 
thus  put  to  death,  Bibiana 
was  deprived  of  all  her  posses- 
sions, as  also  was  her  sister, 
Demetria.  Apronianus,  the 
City  Praetor,  thirsting  after 
their  wealth,  persecutes  the 
two  sisters.  They  are  bereaved 
of  every  human  help.  But 
God,  who  gives  food  to  them 
that  are  in  hunger,  wonder- 
fully nourishes  them  ;  and 
the  Praetor  is  exceedingly  as- 
tonished on  finding  them  in 
better  health  and  strength 
than  before. 

Apronianus,  notwithstand- 
ing, endeavours  to  induce 
them  to  venerate  the  gods  of 
the  Gentiles.  If  they  consent, 
he  promises  them  the  reco- 
very of  all  their  wealth,  the 
Emperor's  favour,  and  mar- 
riage to  the  noblest  in  the 
empire  :  but  should  they  re- 
fuse, he  threatens  them  with 
prison,  and  scourgings,  and 
the  sword.  But  neither  pro- 
mises nor  threats  can  make 
them  abandon  the  true  faith ; 
they  would  rather  die,  than 
be  defiled  by  the  idolatrous 
practices  of  paganism  ;  and 
they  resolutely  resist  the  im- 
pious Praetor.  Whereupon, 
Demetria  was  struck  down  in 
the  presence  of  Bibiana,  and 
slept  in  the  Lord.    Bibiana 


Mater  Dafrosa,  et  filiae  pri- 
mum  conclusae  domi,  ut 
media  conficerentur  ;  mox 
relegata  mater  extra  Urbem 
capite  plexa  est.  Mortuis  au- 
tem  piis  parentibus,  Bibiana 
cum  sorore  sua  Demetria 
bonis  omnibus  spoliatur. 
Apronianus,  Urbis  Praetor, 
pecuniis  inhians,  sorores 
persequitur,  quas  human  a 
prorsus  ope  destitutas,  Deo 
mirabiliter  qui  dat  escam 
esurientibus,  enutriente, 

quum  vivaciores  vegetiores- 
que  conspexisset,  vehementer 
est  admiratus. 


_  Suadet  nihilominus  Apro- 
nianus, ut  venerentur  deos 
Gentium ;  amissas  ideo  opes, 
Imperatoris  gratiam,  prae- 
clarissimas  nuptias  conse- 
cuturae.  Si  secus  fecerint, 
minatur  carceres,  virgas, 
secures.  At  illae  neque  blan- 
ditiis,  neque  minis  a  recta 
fide  declinantes,  paratae  po- 
tius  mori,  quam  foedari  mo- 
ribus  ethnicorum,  Praetoris 
impietatem  constantissime 
detestantur.  Quare  Deme- 
tria ob  oculos  Bibianae  re- 
pente  corruens,  obdormivit 
in  Domino  :  et  Bibiana  Ru- 
finae  mulieri  vaferrimae  se- 
ducenda  traditur :  quae  ab 
incunabilis  edocta  Christia- 
nas leges,  et  illibatum  ser- 
vare      virginitatis      florem, 


320 


ADVENT. 


seipsa  fortior,  feminse  super- 
avit  insidias,  et  Prsetoris 
astus  delusit. 


Nihil  auteni  proficiente 
Eufina,  quae  praeter  dolosa 
verba,  illam  quotidie  verbe- 
ribus  affligebat,  ut  de  sancto 
pToposito  dinioveret,  spe 
sua  frustratus  Praetor,  _  ac- 
census  ira,  quod  in  Bibiana 
perdidisset  operam,  a  licto- 
ribus  earn  denudari,  vinc- 
tisque  inanibus  columnae 
alligari,  eamque  plumbatis 
caedi  jubet,  donee  efflaret 
animam.  Cujus  sacrum  cor- 
pus objecturn  canibus  biduo 
jacuit  in  foro  Tauri,  illaesum 
tamen,  et  divinitus  serva- 
tum  ;  quod  deinde  Joannes 
Presbyter  sepelivit  noctu 
juxta  sepulchrum  sororis  et 
matris  ad  palatium  Licinia- 
num,  ubi  usque  in  praesens 
extat  ecclesia  Deo,  sanctae 
Bibianae  nomine  dicata, 
quam  Urbanus  Octavus  in- 
stauravit,  sanctarum  Bibia- 
nae, Demetriae  et  Dafrosae 
corporibus  in  ea  repertis,  et 
sub  ara  maxima  collocatis. 


was  delivered  over  to  a  woman 
by  name  Eufina,  who  was 
most  skilled  in  the  art  of 
seduction.  But  the  virgin, 
taught  from  her  infancy  to 
observe  the  Christian  law, 
and  to  preserve  with  the  ut- 
most jealousy  the  flower  of 
her  virginity,  rose  above  na- 
ture, defeated  all  the  artifices 
of  the  wretched  Bufina,  and 
foiled  the  craft  of  the  Prsetor. 
Finding,  therefore,  that 
Pvufina  could  in  no  wise  shake 
the  virgin's  holy  resolution, 
and  that  both  her  wicked 
words  and  frequent  blows 
were  of  no  avail ;  and  seeing 
his  hopes  disappointed  and 
his  labour  thrown  away  ;  the 
Praetor  became  violently  en- 
raged, and  ordered  Bibiana 
to  be  stripped  by  the  lictors, 
to  be  fastened  to  a  pillar 
with  her  hands  bound,  and 
to  be  beaten  to  death  with 
leaded  whips.  Her  sacred 
body  was  left  for  two  days  in 
the  Bull-Forum,  as  food  for 
dogs ;  but  received  no  in- 
jury, being  divinely  pre- 
served. A  priest  called  John 
then  buried  it  during  the 
night,  close  to  the  grave  of 
her  sister  and  mother,  near 
the  Palace  Licinius,  where 
there  stands  at  this  day  a 
Church  consecrated  to  God 
under  the  title  of  St.  Bibiana. 
Urban  VIII.  restored  this 
Church,  having  there  dis- 
covered the  bodies  of  Saints 
Bibiana,  Demetria,  and  Da- 
frosa,  which  he  placed  under 
the  high  altar. 


DEC.   2.      ST.   BIBIANA.  321 

Holy  Bibiana,  most  wise  Virgin !  thou  hast  gone 
through  the  long  unbroken  watch  of  this  life  ;  and 
when,  suddenly,  the  Spouse  came,  thy  lamp  was 
bright  and  richly  fed  with  oil.  Now  thou  art  dwel- 
ling in  the  abode  of  the  eternal  marriage-feast,  where 
the  Beloved  feeds  among  the  lilies.  Remember  us 
who  are  still  living  in  the  expectation  of  that  same 
divine  Spouse,  whose  eternal  embrace  is  secured  to 
thee  for  ever.  We  are  awaiting  the  Birth  of  the 
Saviour  of  the  world,  which  is  to  be  the  end  of  sin 
and  the  beginning  of  justice ;  we  are  awaiting  the 
coming  of  this  Saviour  into  our  souls  that  he  may 
give  them  life  and  union  with  himself  by  love ;  we 
are  awaiting  our  Judge,  the  Judge  of  the  living  and 
the  dead.  Most  wise  Virgin !  intercede  for  us,  by 
thy  fervent  prayers,  with  this  our  Saviour,  our 
Spouse,  and  our  Judge;  pray  that  each  of  these 
three  visits  may  work  and  perfect  in  us  that  divine 
union,  for  which  we  have  all  been  created.  Pray 
also,  O  faithful  Virgin,  for  the  Church  on  earth, 
which  gave  thee  to  the  Church  in  heaven,  and  which 
so  devoutly  watches  over  thy  precious  remains. 
Obtain  for  her  that  strict  fidelity,  which  will  ever 
render  her  worthy  of  Him,  who  is  her  Spouse  as 
he  is  thine.  Though  he  has  enriched  her  with  the 
most  magnificent  gifts,  and  given  her  confidence  by 
his  promises  which  cannot  fail,  yet  does  he  wish  her 
to  ask,  and  us  to  ask  for  her,  the  graces  which  will 
lead  her  to  the  glorious  destiny  which  awaits  her. 


We  will  to-day  consider  the  state  of  nature  at  this 
season  of  the  year.  The  earth  is  stripped  of  her 
wonted  verdure,  the  flowers  are  gone,  the  fruits  are 
fallen,  the  leaves  are  torn  from  the  trees  and  scattered 
by  the  wind,  and  every  living  thing  stiffens  with  the 
cold.  It  seems  as  though  the  hand  of  death  had 
touched  creation.     We  see  the  sun   rise  after  the 

Y 


322  ADVENT. 

long  night  of  his  absence ;  and  scarce  have  we  felt 
his  warmth  at  noon,  than  he  sets  again,  and  leaves  us 
in  the  chilly  darkness.  Each  day  he  shortens  his 
visit.  Is  the  world  to  become  sunless,  and  men  to 
live  out  the  rest  of  life  in  gloom  ?  The  old  pagans, 
who  witnessed  this  struggle  between  light  and  dark- 
ness, and  feared  the  sun  was  going  to  leave  them, 
dedicated  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  December,  which 
was  the  winter  solstice,  to  the  worship  of  the  sun. 
After  this  day,  their  hopes  revived,  in  seeing  the 
glorious  luminary  again  mounting  up  in  the  sky,  and 
gradually  regaining  his  triumphant  position. 

We  Christians  can  have  no  such  feelings  as  these  ; 
our  light  is  the  true  faith,  which  tells  us  that  there 
is  a  Sun  to  be  sought  for  which  never  sets,  and  is 
never  eclipsed.  Having  Him,  we  care  little  for  the 
absence  of  any  other  brightness  ;  nay,  all  other  light, 
without  Him,  can  only  lead  us  astray.  O  Jesus  ! 
thou  true  light,  that  enlightenest  every  man  coming 
into  this  world  !  thou  didst  choose,  for  thy  birth 
among  us,  a  time  of  the  year  which  forces  us  to 
reflect  upon  the  miserable  state  of  the  world  when 
thou  didst  come  to  save  it.  "  The  evening  was 
"  coming  on,  and  the  day  wTas  far  spent,"  says  St. 
Bernard  :  "  the  Sun  of  Justice  had  all  but  set,  so 
"  that  exceeding  scanty  was  his  light  or  warmth  on 
"  earth  :  for  the  light  of  divine  knowledge  was  very 
'(  faint,  and,  sin  abounding,  the  heat  of  charity  had 
"  grown  cold.  There  was  neither  Angel  to  visit  men, 
"  nor  Prophet  to  speak  to  them ;  both  seemed  in 
"  despair,  for  the  hardness  and  obstinacy  of  man  had 
"  made  every  effort  useless :  then  I  said,  they  are 
"  the  wTords  of  our  Redeemer,  then  I  said,  lo  I  I 
"  come  i"1  O  Jesus  !  O  Sun  of  Justice  !  give  us  a  clear 
knowledge  of  what  the  world  is  without  thee ;  what 
our  understanding  is  without  thy  light ;  and  what  our 

1  First  Sermon  of  Advent. 


DEC.    2.      ST.   BIBIANA. 


323 


heart,  without  thy  divine  heat.  Open  thou  the  eyes 
of  our  faith  ;  that  whilst  seeing  with  the  eyes  of  the 
body  the  gradual  decrease  of  the  material  light,  we 
may  think  of  that  other  darkness,  which  is  in  the 
soul  that  has  not  thee.  Then,  indeed,  will  the  cry, 
which  comes  from  the  depths  of  our  misery,  make 
its  way  to  thee,  and  thou  wilt  come  on  the  day  thou 
hast  fixed,  dispelling  every  shadow  of  darkness  by 
thy  irresistible  brightness. 

PRAYER  FOR  THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 

{The  Mozarabic  Breviary,  Wednesday  of  the  Second  Week  of 
Advent,  Capitula.) 


0  Lord,  Jesus  Christ,  who 
having  assumed  human 
nature,  and  becoming  the 
Saviour  of  the  human  race, 
wast  given  as  a  light  to  the 
nations ;  open  the  eyes  of 
the  hearts  of  them  that 
believe  in  thee,  and  merci- 
fully set  free  from  their 
prison  them  that  are  bound 
in  the  fetters  of  unbelief ; 
and  whom  thou  seest  cap- 
tives in  prison  in  the  dark- 
ness of  ignorance,  enlighten 
them,  we  beseech  thee,  by 
the  splendour  of  the  know- 
ledge of  thee. 


Domine,  Jesu  Christe,  qui 
assumpto  homine,  hominum 
susceptor  effectus,  in  lucem 
gentium  clatus  es ;  aperi 
oculos  cordium  in  te  creden- 
tium  populorum,  atque  ab- 
strahe  misericors  de  conclu- 
sione  religatos  adhuc  vincu- 
lis  diffidentiae  :  et  quos  in 
domo  carceris  detineri  con- 
spicis  in  tenebris  ignorantiae, 
tuae  quassumus  scientiae 
irradies  splendore. 


324  ADVENT. 


December  3. 
SAINT  FRANCIS  XAVIER,  CONFESSOR, 

APOSTLE   OF   THE   INDIES. 


The  Apostles  being  the  heralds  of  the  Coming  of 
the  Messias,  it  was  fitting  that  Advent  should  have, 
in  its  calendar,  the  name  of  some  one  among  them. 
Divine  Providence  has  provided  for  this ;  for,  to  say- 
nothing  of  St.  Andrew,  whose  feast  is  oftentimes 
past  before  the  season  of  Advent  has  commenced, 
St.  Thomas'  day  is  unfailingly  kept  immediately 
before  Christmas.  We  will  explain,  later  on,  why 
St.  Thomas  holds  that  position  rather  than  any  other 
Apostle ;  at  present,  we  simply  assert  the  fitness  of 
there  being  at  least  one  of  the  Apostolic  College, 
who  should  announce  to  us,  in  this  period  of  the 
Catholic  cycle,  the  Coming  of  the  Redeemer.  But 
God  has  not  wished  that  the  first  Apostolate  should 
be  the  only  one  to  appear  on  the  first  page  of  the 
liturgical  calendar;  great  also,  though  in  a  lesser 
degree,  is  the  glory  of  that  second  Apostolate,  whereby 
the  Spouse  of  Jesus  Christ  multiplies  her  children, 
even  in  her  fruitful  old  age,  as  the  Psalmist 
expresses  it.1  There  are  Gentiles  who  have  still  to 
be  evangelised  ;  the  Coming  of  the  Messias  is  far 
from  having  been  announced  to  all  nations.  Now, 
of  all  the  valiant  messengers  of  the  divine  Word 

1  Ps.  xci.  15. 


DEC.   3.      ST.   FKANCIS  XAVIER.  325 

who  have,  during  the  last  few  hundred  years,  pro- 
claimed the  good  tidings  among  infidel  nations, 
there  is  not  one  whose  glory  is  greater,  who  has 
worked  greater  wonders,  or  who  has  shown  himself 
a  closer  imitator  of  the  first  Apostles,  than  the 
modern  Apostle  of  the  Indies,  St.  Francis  Xavier. 

Yes,  the  life  and  apostolate  of  this  wonderful  man 
were  a  great  triumph  for  our  Mother  the  holy  Catholic 
Church  ;  for  St.  Francis  came  just  at  the  period  when 
heresy,  encouraged  by  false  learning,  by  political 
intrigues,  by  covetousness,  and  by  all  the  wicked 
passions  of  the  human  heart,  seemed  on  the  eve  of 
victory.  Emboldened  by  all  these,  this  enemy  of 
God  spoke,  with  the  deepest  contempt,  of  that 
ancient  Church  which  rested  on  the  promises  of 
Jesus  Christ;  it  declared  that  she  was  unworthy  of 
the  confidence  of  men,  and  dared  even  to  call  her 
the  harlot  of  Babylon,  as  though  the  vices  of  her 
children  could  taint  the  purity  of  the  Mother.  God's 
time  came  at  last,  and  he  showed  himself  in  his 
power  :  the  garden  of  the  Church  suddenly  appeared 
rich  in  the  most  admirable  fruits  of  sanctity.  Heroes 
and  heroines  issued  from  that  apparent  barrenness ; 
and  whilst  the  pretended  Reformers  showed  them- 
selves to  be  the  wickedest  of  men,  two  single  coun- 
tries,— Italy  and  Spain, — gave  to  the  world  the  most 
magnificent  Saints. 

One  of  these  is  brought  before  us  to-day,  claiming 
our  love  and  our  praise.  The  Calendar  of  the 
Liturgical  Year  will  present  to  us,  from  time  to 
time,  his  cotemporaries  and  his  companions  in 
divine  grace  and  heroic  sanctity.  The  sixteenth 
century  is,  therefore,  worthy  of  comparison  with  any 
other  age  of  the  Church.  The  so-called  Reformers 
of  those  times  gave  little  proof  of  their  desire  to 
convert  infidel  countries,  when  their  only  zeal  was  to 
bury  Christianity  beneath  the  ruin  of  her  churches. 
But  at  that  very  time,  a  society  of  Apostles  was 


326  ADVENT. 

offering  itself  to  the  Roman  Pontiff,  that  he  might 
send  them  to  plant  the  true  faith  among  people  who 
"were  sitting  in  the  thickest  shades  of  death.  But, 
we  repeat,  not  one  of  these  holy  men  so  closely 
imitated  the  first  Apostles  as  did  Francis,  the  disciple 
of  Ignatius.  He  had  all  the  marks  and  labours  of  an 
Apostle  :  an  immense  world  of  people  evangelised  by 
his  zeal,  hundreds  of  thousands  of  infidels  baptised 
by  his  indefatigable  ministration,  and  miracles  of 
every  kind,  which  proved  him,  to  the  infidel,  to  be 
marked  with  the  sign,  which  they  received,  who, 
living  in  the  flesh,  planted  the  Church,  as  the 
Church  speaks  in  her  Liturgy.  So  that,  in  the  six- 
teenth century,  the  East  received  from  the  ever  holy 
city  of  Rome,  an  Apostle,  who,  by  his  character  and 
his  works,  resembled  those  earlier  ones  sent  her  by 
Jesus  himself.  May  our  Lord  Jesus  be  for  ever 
praised  for  having  vindicated  the  honour  of  the 
Church,  his  Spouse,  by  raising  up  Francis  Xavier, 
and  giving  to  men,  in  this  his  servant,  a  representa- 
tion of  what  the  first  Apostles  were,  whom  he  sent  to 
preach  the  Gospel  when  the  whole  world  was 
pagan. 

Let  us  now  read  the  short  account  given  us,  in  the 
words  of  the  Church,  of  this  new  Apostle. 

Franciscus  in  Xaverio  dioe-  Francis  was  born  of  noble 

cesis   Pampelonensis   nobili-  parents,   at   Xavier,   in   the 

bus  parentibus  natus,  Parisiis  diocese  of  Pampelona.     Hav- 

sancto  Ignatio  sese  comitem  ing  gone  to  Paris,  he   there 

et  discipulum  junxit.     Ipso  became  the   companion  and 

magistro,   eo   brevi   devenit,  disciple     of     St.     Ignatius, 

ut  in  rerum  divinarum  con-  Under    such    a   master,  he 

templatione  defixus  a  terra  arrived  at  so  high  a  contem- 

aliquando   sublimis   elevare-  plation  of  divine  things,  as 

tur  :     quod    illi    sacrificanti  to  be  sometimes  raised  above 

coram  _  populi     multitudine  the    ground  :    which    occa- 

aliquoties  evenit.    Has  animi  sionally    happened   to    him 

delicias  magnis  sui  corporis  whilst    saying    mass    before 

cruciatibus  merebatur.  Nam,  crowds  of  people.     He  had 

interdicto    sibi,   non    carnis  merited  these  spiritual    de- 


DEC.    3.      ST.    FRANCIS   XAVIER. 


327 


lights  by  his  severe  mortifi- 
cations of  the  body ;  for  he 
never  allowed  himself  either 
flesh  meat,  or  wine,  or  even 
wheaten  bread,  and  ate  only 
the  coarsest  food  ;  he  not  un- 
frequently  abstained,  for  the 
space  of  two  or  three  days, 
from  every  sort  of  nourish- 
ment. He  scourged  himself 
so  severely  with  disciplines, 
to  which  were  fastened  pieces 
of  iron,  as  to  be  frequently 
covered  with  blood.  His 
sleep,  which  he  took  on 
the  ground,  was  extremely 
short. 

Such  austerity  and  holiness 
of  life  had  fitted  him  for  the 
labours  of  an  Apostle ;  so  that 
when  John  the  Third,  King  of 
Portugal,  asked  of  Paul  the 
Third,  that  some  of  the  newly- 
founded  Society  might  be 
sent  to  the  Indies,  that  Pontiff, 
by  the  advice  of  St.  Ignatius, 
selected  Francis  for  so  impor- 
tant a  work,  and  gave  him 
the  powers  of  Apostolic  Nun- 
cio. Having  reached  those 
parts,  he  was  found  to  be,  on 
a  sudden,  divinely  gifted  with 
the  knowledge  of  the  exceed- 
ingly difficult  and  varied  lan- 
guages of  the  several  coun- 
tries. It  sometimes  even 
happened,  that  whilst  he  was 
preaching  in  one  language  to 
the  people  of  several  nations, 
each  heard  him  speaking  in 
their  own  tongue.  He  tra- 
velled over  innumerable  pro- 
vinces, always  on  foot,  and 
not  unfrequently  bare  footed. 
He  carried  the  faith  into 
Japan,  and  six  other  coun- 


solum  et  vini,  sed  panis  quo- 
que  triticei  usu,  vilibus  cibis 
vesci  solitus,per  biduum  sub- 
inde  triduumque,  omni  pror- 
sus  alimento  abstinuit.  Fer- 
reis  in  se  fla^ellis  ita  sseviit, 
ut  ssepe  copioso  cruore  dif- 
flueret :  somnum  brevissi- 
mum  humi  jacens  capiebat. 


Vitse  austeritate,  ac  sanc- 
titate  Apostolico  muneri  jam 
maturus,  quum  Joannes  Ter- 
tius  Lusitanise  rex  aliquot 
nascentis  Societatis  viros  a 
Paulo  Tertio  pro  Indiis  pos- 
tulasset,  sancti  Ignatii  hor- 
tatu  ab  eodem  Pontifiee  ad 
tantum  opus  cum  Apostolici 
Nuncii  potestate  deligitur. 
Eo  appulsus,  illico  variarum 
gentium  difficillimis  et  variis 
Unguis  divinitus  instructus 
apparuit.  Quin  eum  quan- 
doque  unico  idiomate  ad 
diversas  gentes  concionan- 
tem.  unaquseque  sua  lingua 
loquentem  audivit.  Provin- 
cias  innumeras  pedibus  sem- 
per, et  saspe  nudis,  peragra- 
vit.  Fidem  Japonise  et  sex 
aliis  regionibus  invexit. 
Multa  centena  hominum  mil- 
lia  ad  Christum  in  Indiis 
convertit  :  magnosque  Prin- 
cipes,  Regesque  complures 
sacro  fonte  expiavit.  Et 
quum  tarn  magna  pro  Deo 
ageret,  ea  erat  humilitate,  ut 


328 


ADVENT. 


sancto  Ignatio,  tunc  Prse- 
posito  suo,  flexis  genibus 
scriberet. 


Hunc  dilatandi  Evangelii 
ardorem  multitudine  et  ex- 
cellentia  miraculorum  Domi- 
nus  roboravit.  Cseco  visum 
reddidit.  Tantum  marinse 
aquae  signo  crucis  convertit  in 
dulcem,  quantum  quingentis 
vectoribus,  qui  siti  adigeban- 
tur  ad  mortem,  diu  suffecit. 
Qua  in  varias  quoque  re- 
giones  asportata,  segri  pluri- 
mi  subito  curati  sunt.  Plu- 
res  mortuos  revocavit  ad  vi- 
tani,  inter  quos  pridie  sepul- 
tum  erui  jussum  e  tumulo 
suscitavit,  duosque  alios  dum 
efferebantur,  apprehensa  eo- 
rum  manu,  parentibus  e 
feretro  vivos  restituit.  Pro- 
phetise  spiritu  passim  affla- 
tus, plurima  et  loco  et  tem- 
pore remotissima  enuntiavit. 
Demum  in  Sanciano  Sin- 
arum  insula,  die  secunda 
Decembris  obiit  plenus  me- 
ntis laboribusque  confectus. 
Demortui  cadaver  viva  calce 
per  multos  menses  bis  obru- 
tum,  sed  penitus  incorrup- 
tum,  odore  et  sanguine  ma- 
navit,  et  ubi  Malacam 
delatum  est,  pestem  ssevis- 
simam  confestim  exstinxit. 
Denique  ubique  terrarum 
novis  maximisque  fulgentem 
miraculis,      Gregorius     De- 


tries.  He  converted  to  Christ 
many  hundred  thousands  in 
the  Indies,  and  baptised  se- 
veral Princes  and  Kings. 
And  yet,  though  he  was  doing 
such  great  things  for  God,  he 
was  so  humble,  that  he  never 
wrote  to  St,  Ignatius,  the 
then  General  of  the  Society, 
but  on  his  knees. 

God  blessed  this  zeal  for 
the  diffusion  of  the  Gospel 
by  many  and  extraordinary 
miracles.  The  Saint  restored 
sight  to  a  blind  man.  By  the 
sign  of  the  cross  he  changed 
sea-water  into  fresh,  suffi- 
cient, for  many  days,  for  a 
crew  of  live  hundred  men, 
who  were  dying  from  thirst. 
This  water  was  afterwards 
taken  into  several  countries, 
and  being  given  to  sick  peo- 
ple, they  were  instantly 
cured.  He  raised  several 
dead  men  to  life;  one  of  these 
had  been  buried  on  the  pre- 
vious day,  so  that  the  corpse 
had  to  be  taken  out  of  the 
grave  ;  two  others  were  being 
carried  to  the  grave,  when 
the  Saint  took  them  by  the 
hand,  and,  raising  them  from 
the  bier,  restored  them  to 
their  parents.  Being  con- 
tinually gifted  with  the 
spirit  of  prophecy,  he  fore- 
told many  future  events,  or 
such  as  were  happening  in 
most  distant  parts.  At 
length,  full  of  merit,  and 
worn  out  by  his  labours,  he 
died  on  the  second  day  of 
December,  in  Sancian,  an 
island  off  the  coast  of  China. 
His  corpse  was  twice  buried 


DEC.    3.      ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIER.  329 

in  unslaked  lime,  but  was  cimus  quintus  Sanctis  ad 
found,  after  several  months,  scripsit. 
to  be  incorrupt :  blood 
flowed  from  it,  and  it  ex- 
haled a  pleasing  fragrance  : 
when  it  was  brought  to  Ma- 
lacca, it  instantly  arrested  a 
most  raging  pestilence.  At 
length,  fresh  and  extraordi- 
nary miracles  being  every- 
where wrought  through  the 
intercession  of  the  man  of 
God,  he  was  enrolled  among 
the  Saints  by  Gregory  the 
Fifteenth. 

Glorious  Apostle  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  didst  impart 
bis  divine  light  to  the  nations  that  were  sitting  in 
the  shadows  of  death  !  we,  though  unworthy  of  the 
name  of  Christians,  address  our  prayers  to  thee,  that, 
by  the  charity  which  led  thee  to  sacrifice  everything 
for  the  conversion  of  souls,  thou  wouldst  deign  to 
prepare  us  for  the  visit  of  the  Saviour,  whom  our 
faith  and  our  love  desire.  Thou  wast  the  father  of 
infidel  nations;  be  the  protector,  during  this  holy 
season,  of  them  that  believe  in  Christ.  Before  thy 
eyes  had  contemplated  the  Lord  Jesus,  thou  didst 
make  him  known  to  countless  people ;  now  that  thou 
seest  him  face  to  face,  obtain  for  us  that,  when  he  is 
come,  we  may  see  him  with  that  simple  and  ardent 
faith  of  the  Magi,  those  glorious  first-fruits  of  the 
nations  to  which  thou  didst  bear  the  admirable  light.1 

Remember  also,  O  great  Apostle,  those  nations 
which  thou  didst  evangelise,  and  where  now,  by  a 
terrible  judgment  of  God,  the  word  of  life  has  ceased 
to  bring  forth  fruit.  Pray  for  the  vast  empire  of 
China,  on  which  thou  didst  look  when  dying,  but 
which  was  not  blessed  with  thy  preaching.  Pray  for 
Japan,  thy  dear  garden  which  has  been  laid  waste  by 

1  I.  St.  Pet.  ii.  9. 


330  ADVENT. 

the  savage  wild  beast,  of  which  the  Psalmist  speaks. 
May  the  blood  of  the  Martyrs,  which  was  poured  out 
on  that  land  like  water,  bring  it  the  long  expected 
fertility.  Bless,  too,  all  the  Missions,  which  our  holy 
Mother  the  Church  has  undertaken  in  those  lands 
where  the  Cross  has  not  yet  triumphed.  May  the 
heart  of  the  infidel  be  opened  to  the  grand  simpli- 
city and  light  of  faith ;  may  the  seed  bring  forth 
fruit  a  hundred-fold ;  may  the  number  of  thy  succes- 
sors in  the  new  apostolate  ever  increase ;  may  their 
zeal  and  charity  fail  not ;  may  their  toil  receive  its 
reward  of  abundant  fruit;  and  may  the  crown  of  mar- 
tyrdom,which  they  receive,  be  not  only  the  recompense, 
but  the  perfection  and  the  triumph  of  their  apostolic 
ministry.  Recommend  to  our  Lord  the  innumerable 
members  of  that  Association,  which  is  the  means  of 
the  Faith  beiDg  propagated  through  the  world,  and 
which  has  thee  for  its  Patron.  Pray,  with  a  filial 
affection  and  earnestness,  for  that  holy  Society,  of 
which  thou  art  so  bright  an  ornament,  and  which 
reposes  on  thee  its  firmest  confidence.  May  it  more 
and  more  flourish  under  the  storm  of  trial  which 
never  leaves  it  in  rest ;  may  it  be  multiplied,  that  so 
the  children  of  God  may  be  multiplied  by  its  labours ; 
may  it  ever  have  ready,  for  the  service  of  the  Chris- 
tian world,  zealous  Apostles  and  Doctors  ;  may  it  not 
be  in  vain  that  it  bears  the  name  of  Jesus. 


Let  us  consider  the  wretched  condition  of  the 
human  race,  at  the  time  of  Christ's  coming  into  the 
world.  The  diminution  of  truths1  is  emphatically 
expressed  by  the  little  light,  which  the  earth  enjoys 
at  this  season  of  the  year.  The  ancient  traditions 
are  gradually  becoming  extinct ;  the  Creator  is  not 
acknowledged,  even  in  the  very  work  of  his  hands; 

1  Ps.  xi.  2. 


DEC.    3.      ST.   FKANCIS   XAVIER.  331 

everything  has  been  made  God,  except  the  God  who 
made  all  things.  This  frightful  Pantheism  produces 
the  vilest  immorality,  both  in  society  at  large,  and  in 
individuals.  There  are  no  rights  acknowledged,  save 
that  of  might.  Lust,  avarice,  and  theft,  are  honoured 
by  men  in  the  gods  of  their  altars.  There  is  no  such 
thing  as  Family,  for  divorce  and  infanticide  are  lega- 
lised ;  mankind  is  degraded  by  a  general  system  of 
slavery ;  nations  are  being  exterminated  by  endless 
wars.  The  human  race  is  in  the  last  extreme  of 
misery ;  and  unless  the  hand  that  created  it  reform 
it,  it  must  needs  sink  a  prey  to  crime  and  bloodshed. 
There  are  indeed  some  few  just  men  still  left  upon 
the  earth,  and  they  struggle  against  the  torrent  of 
universal  degradation ;  but  they  cannot  save  the 
world ;  the  world  despises  them,  and  God  will  not 
accept  their  merits  as  a  palliation  of  the  hideous 
leprosy  which  covers  the  earth.  All  flesh  has  cor- 
rupted its  way,  and  is  more  guilty  than  even  in  the 
days  of  the  deluge :  and  yet,  a  second  destruction  of 
the  universe  would  but  manifest  anew  the  justice  of 
God ;  it  is  time  that  a  deluge  of  his  divine  mercy 
should  flood  the  universe,  and  that  He  who  made 
man,  should  come  down  and  heal  him.  Come  then, 
O  eternal  Son  of  God  !  give  life  again  to  this  dead 
body;  heal  all  its  wounds;  purify  it;  let  grace  super- 
abound,  where  sin  before  abounded  ;  and  having  con- 
verted the  world  to  thy  holy  law,  thou  wilt  have 
proved  to  all  ages,  that  thou  who  earnest,  wast  in 
very  truth  the  Word  of  the  Father ;  for  as  none  but 
a  God  could  create  the  world,  so  none  but  the  same 
omnipotent  God  could  save  it  from  Satan  and  sin, 
and  restore  it  to  justice  and  holiness. 


332 


ADVENT. 


A  EESPONSOEY  OF  ADVENT. 

{The  Roman  Breviary,  Fourth  Sunday  of  Advent.) 


I£.  Intuemini  quantus  sit 
iste,  qui  ingreditur  ad  sal  van- 
das  gentes  :  ipse  est  Rex  j  us- 
titiae,  *  Cujus  generatio  non 
habet  finem. 

$".  Prsecursor  pro  nobis  in- 
greditur, secundum  ordinem 
Melchisedech  Pontif ex  factus 
in  aeternum  ;  *  Cujus  gene- 
ratio  non  habet  finem. 


1$.  Behold  !  how  great  is 
he  that  cometh  in  to  save  the 
nations  ;  he  is  the  King  of 
justice,  *  Whose  generation 
hath  no  end. 

f.  He  comes  in  as  our  pre- 
cursor, made  Priest  for  ever 
according  to  the  order  of 
Melchisedech  ;  *  Whose  gen- 
eration hath  no  end. 


DEC.   4.      ST.   PETER  CHRYSOLOGUS.  333 


December  4. 
SAINT    PETER    CHRYSOLOGUS, 

BISHOP  AND  DOCTOR  OF  THE   CHURCH. 


The  same  divine  Providence,  which  would  not  that 
the  Church  should  be  deprived  of  the  consolation  of 
keeping,  during  Advent,  the  feast  of  some  of  the 
Apostles,  who  announced  to  the  Gentiles  the  coming 
of  the  Messias,  has  also  willed  that  the  holy  Doctors, 
who  defended  the  true  Faith  against  heretics,  should 
be  represented  in  this  important  season  of  the 
Catholic  Year.  Two  of  them,  St.  Ambrose  and  St. 
Peter  Chrysologus,  shine  as  two  brilliant  stars  in  the 
firmament  of  the  Church  during  Advent.  It  is 
worthy  of  note,  that  both  of  them  were  the  zealous 
avengers  of  that  Son  of  God  whom  we  are  preparing 
to  receive.  The  first  was  the  valiant  opponent  of 
the  Arians,  whose  impious  doctrine  taught  that  Jesus, 
the  object  of  our  hopes,  is  merely  a  creature  and 
not  God ;  the  second  was  the  adversary  of  Eutyches, 
whose  sacrilegious  system  robs  the  Incarnation  of 
the  Son  of  God  of  all  its  glory,  by  asserting  that,  in 
this  mystery,  the  human  nature  was  absorbed  by  the 
divinity. 

It  is  this  second  Doctor,  the  holy  Bishop  of 
Ravenna,  that  we  are  to  honour  to-day.  His  pas- 
toral eloquence  gained  for  him  a  great  reputation, 
and  a  great  number  of  his  Sermons  have  been  handed 
down  to  us.     In  almost  every  page,  we  find  passages 


334  ADVENT. 

of  the  most  exquisite  beauty,  though  we  also  occa- 
sionally meet  'with  indications  of  the  decay  of  litera- 
ture, which  began  in  the  fifth  century.  The  mystery 
of  the  Incarnation  is  a  frequent  subject  of  the  Saint's 
Sermons,  and  he  always  speaks  upon  it  with  a  pre- 
cision and  enthusiasm,  which  show  his  learning  and 
piety.  His  veneration  and  love  towards  Mary,  the 
Mother  of  God,  who,  in  that  very  age,  had  triumphed 
over  her  enemies  by  the  decree  of  the  Council  of 
Ephesus,  inspire  him  with  thoughts  and  language 
which  are  extremely  fine.  Let  us  take  a  passage 
from  the  Sermon  on  the  Annunciation.  "  God  sends 
"  to  the  Virgin  an  Angelic  Messenger,  who,  whilst  he 
"  brings  grace,  gives  her  the  intrusted  pledge,  and 
"  receives  hers.  Then  does  Gabriel  return  with 
"  Mary's  plighted  troth.  But,  before  ascending  to 
"  heaven,  there  to  tell  the  consent  promised  him  by 
"  the  Yirgin,  he  delivers  to  her  the  gifts  due  to  her 
"  virtues.  Swiftly  does  this  Ambassador  fly  to  the 
"  Spouse,  that  he  might  assert  God's  claim  to  her  as 
"  his  own.  Gabriel  takes  her  not  from  Joseph,  but 
"  he  restores  her  to  Christ,  to  whom  she  was  espoused 
"  when  she  was  first  formed  in  the  womb.1  Christ, 
"  therefore,  did  but  take  his  own,  when  he  thus  made 
"  Mary  his  Spouse.  It  is  not  a  separation  that  he 
*  thus  produces,  but  a  union  to  himself  of  his  own 
-'  creature  by  becoming  Incarnate  in  her  womb. 

"  But  let  us  hearken  to  the  Angel's  words.  Being 
"  come  in,  he  said  unto  her :  Hail,  full  of  grace ! 
"  the  Lord  is  with  thee  !  These  words  are  not  a  mere 
"  salutation  ;  they  convey  the  heavenly  gift.  Hail  ! 
"  that  is,  Take,  O  Mary,  the  grace  I  bring  thee ;  fear 
"  not ;  this  is  not  the  work  of  nature.  Full  of 
"  Grace !  that  is,  Thou  art  not  in  grace  as  others 

1  St.  Peter  Chrysologus  here  asserts  the  mystery  of  the  Imma- 
culate Conception.  If  Mary  was  espoused  to  the  Son  of  God  from 
the  first  moment  of  her  existence,  how  could  Original  Sin  ever 
have  been  upon  her  ? 


DEC.    4.      ST.  PETER  CHKYSOLOGTJS.  335 

"  are,  thou  art  to  be  rilled  with  it.  The  Lord  is  with 
"  thee  !  What  means  this,  but  that  he  is  coming  to 
"  thee  not  merely  to  visit  thee,  but  to  enter  within 
"  thee  by  the  new  mystery  of  becoming  thy  Child  ? 
"Blessed  art  thou  among  women.  How  fittingly 
"  does  he  add  these  words  !  They  imply,  that  they 
"  who  heretofore  were  mothers  with  the  curse  of  Eve 
"upon  them,  now  have  the  Blessed  Mary  as  their 
"joy,  and  honour,  and  type  :  and  whereas  Eve  was, 
"  by  nature,  the  mother  of  children  of  death,  Mary 
"  is,  by  grace,  the  mother  of  children  of  life."1 

In  the  following  passage  from  another  Sermon, 
the  Holy  Doctor  teaches  us  with  what  profound 
veneration  we  ought  to  contemplate  Mary  during 
these  days  when  God  is  still  residing  in  her  womb. 
"  What  reverence  and  awe  are  shown  to  that  inner 
•  chamber  of  a  King,  where  he  sits  in  all  the  majesty 
"  of  his  power  !  Therein,  no  man  may  enter  that  is 
"  a  stranger,  or  unclean,  or  unfaithful.  The  usages 
"  of  courts  require,  that  when  men  come  to  pay  their 
"homage,  everything  must  be  the  best,  and  fairest, 
"and  most  loyal.  Who  would  go  to  the  palace- 
"  gate  in  rags  ?  Who  would  go,  that  knew  he  was 
"  odious  to  the  Prince  ?  So  it  is  with  the  sanctuary 
"  of  the  divine  Spouse.  No  one  is  permitted  to  come 
"  nigh,  but  he  that  is  of  God's  family,  and  is  intimate, 
"and  has  a  good  conscience,  and  has  a  fair  name, 
"  and  leads  a  holy  life.  Within  the  holy  place  itself 
"  God  receives  but  the  Virgin,  and  spotless  virginity. 
"Hence  learn,  O  man,  to  examine  thyself: — who 
"  thou  art  ?  and  what  thou  art  ?  and  what  merits 
"  thou  hast  ?  Ask  thyself,  after  this,  if  thou  mayest 
"  dare  to  penetrate  into  the  mystery  of  the  Birth  of 
"  thy  Lord,  or  canst  be  worthy  to  approach  that 
"living  sanctuary,  wherein  reposes  the  whole  ma- 
jesty of  the  King,  and  thy  God." 2 

3  Sermon  140.  s  Sermon  141 


336 


ADVENT. 


Let  us  now  listen  to  our  holy  Mother  the  Church, 
who  thus  speaks  of  our  Saint. 


Petrus,  qui  ob  auream  ejus 
eloquentiam  Chrysologi  cog- 
nomen acleptus  est,  Foro 
Cornelii  in  ^Emilia  honestis 
parentibns  natus,  a  prima 
setate  animum  ad  religionem 
adjiciens,  Cornelio  Romano, 
tunc  ejusdem  urbis  Corneli- 
ensis  Episcopo,  operam  dedit : 
a  quo  etiam  scientia  et  vitas 
sanctitate  quum  brevi  pro- 
fecisset,  Diaconus  creatus  est. 
Postmodum  contigit,  ut  Ra- 
vennates  ob  mortem  Archi- 
praesulis  sui,  alium  ut  moris 
erat  ab  eis  electum,  Romam 
ad  sanctum  Sixtum  Papam 
Tertium  pro  confirmatione 
miserint  una  cum  Legatis 
suis,  et  cum  praedicto  Cor- 
nelio, qui  eumdem  levitam 
secum  perduxit.  Interim 
sanctus  Petrus  Apostolus,  et 
Martyr  Apollinaris  Summo 
Pontifici  in  somnis  apparu- 
erunt,  mediumque  habentes 
hunc  juvenem,  jusserunt,  ut 
ilium  et  non  alium,  in  Archi- 
episcopum  Ravennae  crearet. 
Hinc  pontifex,  mox  ut  vidit 
Petrum,  cognovit  eum  a 
Domino  Deo  praeelectum  : 
propterea  rejecto  illo  quern 
ipsi  ofFerebant,  hunc  solum 
anno  Christi  quadringentes- 
imo  trigesimo  tertio,  illi 
Metropolitanae  praefecit  Ec- 
clesiae.  Quod  quum  legati 
Ravennatenses  aegre  ferrent, 
audita  visione,  divinae  volun- 
tati  libenter  acquiescentes, 
novum  Archiepiscopum  max- 


Peter,  surnamed,  for  his 
golden  eloquence,  Chryso- 
logus,  was  born  at  Forum 
Cornelii  (Imola)  in  ^Emilia, 
of  respectable  parents.  Turn- 
ing his  mind  to  religion  from 
his  childhood,  he  put  himself 
under  Cornelius,  the  Bishop 
of  that  city,  who  was  a  Ro- 
man. In  a  short  while,  he 
made  such  progress  in  learn- 
ing and  holiness  of  life,  that, 
in  due  time,  the  Bishop  or- 
dained him  Deacon.  Not 
long  after,  it  happened  that 
the  Archbishop  of  Ravenna 
having  died,  the  inhabitants 
of  that  city  sent,  as  usual,  to 
Rome  the  successor,  they  had 
elected,  that  this  election 
might  be  confirmed  by  the 
holy  Pope  Sixtus  the  Third. 
Cornelius,  who  was  also  sent 
in  company  with  the  deputies 
of  Ravenna,  took  with  him. 
the  young  Deacon.  Mean- 
while, the  Apostle  St. 
Peter,  and  the  holy  Martyr 
Apollinaris,  appeared  to 
the  Roman  Pontiff  in  his 
sleep.  They  stood  with  the 
young  levite  between  them, 
and  ordered  the  Pontiff  to 
create  him,  and  none  other, 
as  Archbishop  of  Ravenna. 
The  Pontiff,  therefore,  no 
sooner  saw  Peter,  than  he 
recognised  him  as  the  one 
chosen  by  God  ;  and  reject- 
ing the  one  presented  to  him, 
he  appointed  Peter  to  the 
Metropolitan  Church  of  that 


DEC.  4.      ST.   PETER  CHRYSOLOGUS. 


337 


city,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
433.  At  first,  the  deputies 
from  Ravenna  were  dissatis- 
fied at  this  decision  of  the 
Pope  ;  but,  having  been  told 
of  the  vision,  they  readily 
acquiesced  to  the  divine  will, 
and  received  the  new  Arch- 
bishop with  the  greatest 
reverence. 

Peter,  therefore,  being, 
though  reluctant,  consecrated 
Archbishop,  was  conducted 
to  Ravenna,  where  he  was 
received  with  the  greatest  joy 
by  the  Emperor  Valentinian, 
and  Galla  Placidia  the  Em- 
peror's mother,  and  the  whole 
people.  On  his  part,  he  told 
them  that  he  asked  of  them 
but  this,  that  since  he  had  not 
refused  this  great  burden  for 
their  salvation's  sake,  they 
would  make  it  their  study  to 
f  ollowhis  counsels,andto  obey 
the  commandments  of  God. 
He  then  buried  in  the  city 
the  bodies  of  two  Saints,  after 
having  embalmed  them  with 
the  most  precious  perfumes  ; 
Barbatian,  a  Priest,  was  one ; 
and  the  other,  Germauus, 
Bishop  of  Auxerre,  whose 
cowl  and  hair-shirt  he  claimed 
as  his  own  inheritance.  He 
ordained  Projectus  and  Mar- 
cellinus  Bishops.  In  the 
town  of  Classis  he  erected  a 
fountain  of  an  incredible  size, 
and  built  some  magnificent 
churches  in  honour  of  several 
Saints,  of  Saint  Andrew 
among  the  rest.  The  peo- 
ple had  a  custom  of  assisting 
at  certain  games,  on  the  first 
day  of  January,  which  con- 


nna  cum  reverentia  suscepe 
runt. 


Petrus  igitur,  licet  invitus, 
in  Archiprsesulem  consecra- 
tus  Ravennam  deducitur  : 
ubi  a  Valentiniano  Impera- 
tore,  et  a  Galla  Placidia  ejus 
matre,  et  ab  universo  populo 
maxima  lsetitia  exceptus  est. 
Et  ille  ab  eis  id  unum  petere 
dixit,  ut  quanclo  tantum 
oneris  pro  ipsorum  salute 
subire  non  recusaret,  stude- 
rent  ipsi  monitis  suis  ob- 
temperare,  divinisque  prse- 
ceptis  non  obsistere.  Duo- 
rum  Sanctorum  tunc  ibi  de- 
functorum  corpora  optimis 
unguentis  condita  sepelivit ; 
Barbatiani  videlicet  Presby- 
teri,  et  Germani  Antissiodo- 
rensis  Episcopi,  cujus  etiam 
cucullam  et  cilicium  sibi 
vindicavit  in  hsereditatem. 
Projectum  et  Marcellinum 
Episcopos  ordinavit.  In 
Classe  fontem  extruxit  mag- 
nitudinis  vere  admirabilis, 
et  templa  qusedam  magnifica 
8edificavit,tum  beato  Andrese 
Apostolo,  turn  aliis  Sanctis. 
Ludos  ab  hominibus  person- 
atis  cum  variis  saltationibus, 
Kalendis  Januarii  fieri  solitos, 
concione  cohibuit  acerrima, 
ubi  inter  alia  illud  praeclare 
dixit  :  Qui  jocari  voluerit 
cum    diabolo,     non    poterit 


338 


ADVENT. 


gaudere  cum  Christo.  Jussu 
sancti  Leonis  Papas  Primi 
scripsit  ad  Clialcedonense 
Concilium  adversus  hasresim 
Eutychetis.  Kespondit  prae- 
terea  ad  Eutychem  ipsum  et 
alia  Epistola,  quae  eiclem 
Concilio  in  novis  editionibus 
praefixa,  et  in  Annales  Ec- 
clesiasticos  relata  fuit. 


Dum  publice  sermones  ha- 
beret  ad  populum,  adeo  ve- 
hemens  erat  in  dicendo,  ut 
prae  nimio  ardore  vox  illi 
interdum  defecerit :  sicut 
contigit  in  concione  Haemor- 
rhoissae.  Unde  Ravennates 
commoti,  tot  lacrymis,  cla- 
moribus  et  orationibus  lo- 
cum repleverunt,  ut  postea 
ipse  gratias  ageret  Deo,  quod 
in  lucrum  amoris  verterit 
damnum  ejusdem  sermonis. 
Cum  tandem  annos  circiter 
decern  et  octo  earn  Ecclesiam 
sanctissime  rexisset,  laborum 
suorum  finem  adesse  divini- 
tus  prasnoscens,  in  patriam 
se  contulit ;  ubi  sancti  Cas- 
siani  templum  ingressus, 
magnum  diadema  aureum, 
gemmis  distinctum  pretiosis- 
simis,  offerens,  super  Altare 
majus  posuit ;  necnon  aure- 
um craterem  et  patenam 
argenteam,  quam  turn  rabidi 


sisted  of  theatrical  perform- 
ances and  dances  ;  the  Saint 
repressed  these  by  the  seve- 
rity with  which  he  preached 
against  them.  One  of  his 
expressions  deserves  to  be 
handed  down  :  He  that  would 
play  with  the  devil,  can  never 
enjoy  the  company  of  Jesus. 
At  the  command  of  Pope  St. 
Leo  the  First,  he  wrote  to  the 
Council  of  Chalcedon  against 
the  heresy  of  Eutyches.  He 
answered  Eutyches  himself 
by  another  epistle,  which  has 
been  added  to  the  Acts  of 
that  same  Council  in  the  new 
editions,  and  has  been  in- 
serted in  the  Ecclesiastical 
Annals. 

In  his  sermons  to  the  peo- 
ple he  was  so  earnest,  that  at 
times  his  voice  completely 
failed  him,  as  in  his  Sermon 
on  the  Women  healed  by  our 
Lord,  as  mentioned  in  the 
9  th  chapter  of  St.  Matthew  ; 
on  which  occasion  his  people 
of  Ravenna  were  so  affected, 
and  so  moved  to  tears,  that 
the  whole  church  rang  with 
their  sobbings  and  prayers, 
and  the  Saint  afterwards 
thanked  God,  for  that  he  had 
turned  the  failure  of  his 
speech  into  the  gain  of  so 
much  love.  After  having 
governed  that  Church,  in  a 
most  holy  manner,  about 
eighteen  years,  and  having 
received  a  divine  warning 
that  his  labours  were  soon  to 
end,  he  withdrew  into  his 
native  town.  There  he  visited 
the  Church  of  St.  Cassian, 
and  presented  an  offering  of 


DEC.    4.      ST.   PETER  CHKYSOLOGUS. 


139 


a  large  golden  diadem,  set 
with  most  precious  stones, 
which  he  placed  upon  the 
high  Altar ;  he  also  gave  a 
golden  cup,  and  silver  paten, 
which  imparts  to  water 
poured  on  it  the  virtue  of 
healing  the  bites  of  mad  dogs, 
and  of  assuaging  fevers,  as 
frequent  instances  have  at- 
tested. He  then  took  leave 
of  those  who  had  accom- 
panied him  from  Ravenna, 
admonishing  them  to  spare 
no  pains  in  electing  for  their 
Pastor  him  who  was  the  most 
worthy.  Immediately  after 
this  he  turned  in  humble 
prayer  to  God,  that,  through 
the  intercession  of  his  patron 
St.  Cassian,  he  would  mer- 
cifully receive  his  soul ;  and 
calmly  passed  out  of  this  life, 
on  the  third  of  the  Nones  of 
December  (Dec.  3),  about  the 
year  450.  His  holy  body  was 
buried,  amidst  the  tears  and 
prayers  of  the  whole  city, 
near  the  body  of  the  same  St. 
Cassian :  there  it  is  venerated 
even  at  this  day  ;  though 
Ravenna  possesses  and  ve- 
nerates one  of  the  arms,  which 
was  enshrined  in  gold  and 
gems  and  placed  in  the 
Basilica  Ursicana. 

Holy  Pontiff,  who  didst  open  thy  lips  and  pour 
out  on  the  assembly  of  the  faithful,  in  the  streams  of 
thy  golden  eloquence,  the  knowledge  of  Jesus,  cast 
an  eye  of  compassion  on  the  Christians  throughout 
the  world,  who  are  watching  in  expectation  of  that 
same  God-Man,  whose  two  Natures  thou  didst  so 
courageously  confess.  Obtain  for  us  grace  to  receive 
him  with  that  sovereign  respect,  which  is  due  to  a 


canis  morsus,  turn  febres  sa- 
nare  expertum  est,  aqua  inde 
demissa.  Ex  tunc  Raven- 
nates  qui  eumdem  secuti 
fuerant  dimisit,  admonens, 
ut  in  eligendo  optimo  Pas- 
tore  invigilarent  attente. 
Mox  Deum  humiliter  preca- 
tus,  et  sanctum  Cassianum 
patronum,  ut  benigne  ani- 
mam  ejus  exciperet,  tertio 
Nonas  Decembris,  placide  ex 
hac  vita  migravit,  anno  cir- 
citer  quadringentesimo  quin- 
quagesimo.  Sacrum  ejus 
corpus  comniuni  totius  civi- 
tatis  fletu  ac  pietate  prope 
corpus  ejusdem  sancti  Cas- 
siani  honorifice  conditum. 
nostris  etiam  temporibus 
religiose  colitur :  cujus  ta- 
men  brachium  ;  auro  et  gem- 
mis  ornatum  ;  Ravennam  de- 
latum  in  Uriscana  sede  vene- 
ratur. 


340  ADVENT, 

God  who  comes  down  to  his  creatures,  and  with  that 
loving  confidence,  which   is  due  to  a  Brother  who 
comes  to  offer  himself  in  sacrifice  for  his  most  un- 
worthy brethren.     Strengthen  our  faith,  most  holy 
Doctor  !  for  the  love  we  stand  in  need  of  comes  from 
faith.      Destroy  the  heresies  which  lay  waste  the 
vineyard  of  our  Father ;    and  uproot  that  frightful 
Pantheism,  which  is  the  form  under  which  the  heresy, 
thou  didst  combat,  is  still  among  us.     May  the  nu- 
merous Churches  of  the  East  abjure  that  heresy  of 
Eutyches  which  reigns  so  supreme  amongst  them,  and 
gives  them  the  knowledge  of  the  ineffable  mystery 
of  the  Incarnation  only  to  blaspheme  it.     Pray  that 
the  children  of  the  Church  may  show  to  the  judg- 
ments of  the  Apostolic  See  that  perfect  obedience,  to 
which  thou  didst  so  eloquently  urge  the  heresiarch 
Eutyches,  in  the  Epistle  thou  didst  address  to  him, 
and  which  will  ever  be  precious  to  the  world  :    "  We 
"  exhort  thee  above  all  things,  most  honoured  Brother, 
"  that  thou  receive  with  obedience  whatsoever  has 
"  been  written  by  the  most  blessed  Pope  of  the  City 
"  of  Borne  :  for,  Blessed  Peter,  who  lives  and  presides 
"  in  his  own  See,  shows  the  truth  of  faith  to  all  them 
"  that  seek  it."     (Letter  25.) 


DEC.   4.      ST.   BARBARA.  341 


THE   SAME  DAY. 

SAINT  BARBARA,  VIRGIN  AND  MARTYR. 


Although,  in  the  Roman  Liturgy,  St.  Barbara  is 
merely  commemorated  in  the  Office  of  St.  Peter 
Chrysologus ;  yet  the  Church  has  approved  an  entire 
Office  for  the  use  of  those  Churches  which  honour 
the  memory  of  this  illustrious  Virgin  in  a  special 
manner.  The  Legend  which  follows,  although  of 
considerable  wTeight,  has  not,  consequently,  the  autho- 
rity of  those  which  are  promulgated  for  the  use  of 
the  whole  Church,  in  the  Roman  Breviary.  Let  us 
not,  on  this  account,  be  the  less  fervent  in  honouring 
this  glorious  Martyr,  so  celebrated  in  the  East,  and 
whose  feast  has  been  for  so  many  ages  admitted, 
with  more  or  less  solemnity,  into  the  Roman  Church. 
The  Acts  of  her  martyrdom,  though  not  of  the  highest 
antiquity,  contain  nothing  in  them  but  what  re- 
dounds to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  honour  of  the 
Saint.  We  have  already  shown  the  liturgical  im- 
portance which  attaches  to  St.  Barbara  in  the  season 
of  Advent.  Let  us  admire  the  constancy  wherewith 
this  Virgin  waited  for  her  Lord,  who  came  at  the 
appointed  hour,  and  was  for  her,  as  the  Scripture 
speaks,  a  Spouse  of  blood,  because  he  put  the 
strength  of  her  love  of  him  to  the  severest  of  all 
tests. 

Barbara,  a  Virgin  of  Nico-  Barbara,    Virgo    Nicome- 

media,  the  daughter  of  Dios-  diensis,  Dioscori  nobilis,  sed 

corus,   a    nobleman,    but    a  superstitiosi    hominis     filia, 

superstitious     pagan,     came  per    ea   quse  visibilia  facta 


342 


ADVENT. 


sunt,  ad  invisibilia,  divina 
opitulante  gratia,  facile  per- 
venit.  Quapropter  soli  Deo 
rebusque  divinis  vacare 
cospit.  Earn  pater,  utpote 
forma  venustiori  nitentem, 
a  quocumque  virorum  oc- 
cursu  tutari  cupiens,  turri 
inclusit  :  ubi  pia  virgo  medi- 
tationibus  et  precibus  ad- 
dicta,  soli  Deo,  quern  sibi  in 
spoil  sum  elegerat,  placere 
studebat.  Oblata  a  pat  re 
pluries  nobilium  connubia 
fortiter  sprevit.  Pater  vero 
per  sui  absentiam  fillse  ani- 
mum  posse  facilius  emolliri 
confidens,  jussit  primo  bal- 
neum extrui,  ne  quid  ei 
deesset  ad  commoditatem  ; 
deinde  peregre  in  exteras 
regiones  profectus  est. 


Absente  patre,  jussit  Bar- 
bara duabus  fenestris  quae  in 
turri  erant,  tertiam  addi  in 
honorem  divinse  Trinitatis, 
labiumque  balnei  sacro- 
sanctae  Crucis  signo  muniri  : 
quod  ubi  rediens  Dioscorus 
inspexit,  audita  novitatis 
causa,  adeo  in  filiam  excan- 
duit  ut  stricto  ense  earn 
appetens,  parum  abfuerit  ut 
earn  dire  confoderet ;  sed 
praesto    adfuit   Deus ;    nam 


readily,  by  the  assistance  of 
divine  grace,  from  the  con- 
templation   of    the    visible 
things    of    creation    to    the 
knowledge  of  the  invisible. 
Wherefore,  she  devoted  her- 
self to  God  alone  and  to  the 
things  of  God.     Her  father, 
desirous  to  preserve  her  from 
all  danger  of  insult,  to  which 
he  feared  her  great   beauty 
might  expose  her,  shut  her 
up  in   a  tower.     There  the 
pious  virgin  passed  her  days 
in    meditation    and    prayer, 
studying     to     please      God 
alone,  whom  she  had  chosen 
as    her  Spouse.     She   cour- 
ageously    rejected      several 
offers    of    marriage,    which 
were  made  to  her,  through 
her  father,  by  rich  nobles. 
But  her  father  hoped,  that 
by  separating  himself  by  a 
long  absence  from  his  child, 
her  intentions  would  easily 
change.      He    first    ordered 
that  a  bath  should  be  built 
for  her  in  the  tower,  so  that 
she  might  want  for  nothing  ; 
and  then  he  set   out   on  a 
journey  into   distant  coun- 
tries. 

During  her  father's  ab- 
sence, Barbara  ordered  that 
to  the  two  windows  already 
in  the  tower  a  third  should 
be  added,  in  honour  of  the 
blessed  Trinity  ;  and  that 
on  the  edge  of  the  bath  the 
sign  of  the  most  holy  Cross 
should  be  drawn.  When 
Dioscorus  returned  home, 
and  saw  these  changes,  and 
was  told  their  meaning,  he 
became  so  incensed  against 


DECEMBEB  4      ST.   BAEBABA. 


343 


his  daughter,  that  he  went  in 
search  of  her  with  a  naked 
sword  in  his  hand,  and,  but 
for  the  protection  of  God, 
he  would  cruelly  have  mur- 
dered her.  Barbara  had 
taken  to  flight  :  an  immense 
rock  opened  before  her,  and 
she  found  a  path  by  which 
she  reached  the  top  of  a 
mountain,  and  there  she  hid 
herself  in  a  cave.  Not  long 
after,  however,  she  was  dis- 
covered by  her  unnatural 
father,  who  savagely  kicked 
and  struck  her,  and  dragging 
her  by  the  hair  over  the 
sharp  rocks,  and  rugged 
ways,  he  handed  her  over  to 
the  governor  Marcian,  that 
he  might  punish  her.  He, 
therefore,  having  used  every 
means  to  shake  her  con- 
stancy, and  finding  that  all 
was  in  vain,  gave  orders 
that  she  should  he  stripped 
and  scourged  with  thongs, 
the  wounds  to  be  then 
scraped  with  potsherd,  and 
so  dragged  to  prison.  There 
Christ,  surrounded  by  an 
immense  light,  appearing  to 
her,  strengthened  her  in  a 
divine  manner  for  the  suffer- 
ings she  was  yet  to  endure. 
A  matron,  named  Juliana, 
who  witnessed  this,  was  con- 
verted to  the  faith,  and 
became  her  companion  in 
the  palm  of  martyrdom. 

At  length  Barbara  had  her 
body  torn  with  iron  hooks, 
her  sides  burnt  with  torches, 
and  her  head  bruised  with 
mallets.  During  these  tor- 
tures she  consoled  her  com- 


fugienti  Barbaras  saxum 
ingens  se  patefaciens  viam 
aperuit,  per  quam  montis 
fastigium  petere,  et  sic  in 
specu  latere,  potuit ;  sed 
paulo  post  quuni  a  nequissi- 
mo  genitore  reperta  fuisset, 
ejus  latera  pedibus  dor- 
sumque  pugnis  immaniter 
percussit,  et  crinibus  per  loca 
aspera  difficilesque  vias  rap- 
tatam  Marciano  Prsesidi  pu- 
niendam  tradidit.  Itaque 
ab  ipso  omnibus  modis,  sed 
incassum  tentata  nudam 
nervis  caedi  et  infricta  vul- 
nera  testulis  confricari, 
deinde  in  carcerem  train 
prsecepit :  ubi  immensa  luce 
circumdatus  ei  Christus  ap- 
parens,  mirince  confortatam 
in  passionum  tolerantia  con- 
firmavit  :  quod  animadver- 
tens  Juliana  matrona,  ad 
fidem  con  versa  ejusdem 
palmse  particeps  effecta  est. 


Barbarse  demum  ferreis 
unguibus  membra  laniantur, 
f acibus  latera  incenduntur,  et 
malleolis  caput  contunditur : 
quibus  in  cruciatibus  con- 
sortem  solabatur,  et  hortaba- 


344 


ADVENT. 


tur  ut  ad  finem  usque  con- 
stanter  certaret.  Praecisis 
tandem  utrique  uberibus, 
nudse  per  loca  publica 
tractas,  filiseque  cervicem 
ipse  scelestissimus  pater 
humanitatis  expers,  propriis 
manibus  amputavit  :  cujus 
f era  crudelitas  non  diu  inulta 
remansit ;  nam  statim  eo 
ipso  in  loco  fulmine  percus- 
sus  interiit.  Corpus  hujus 
beatissimse  virginis  Justinus 
Imperator  Nicomedia  aufe- 
rens,  Constantinopolim  pri- 
mum  transportavit.  Illud 
idem,  cum  in  progressu 
temp  oris  ab  Imperatoribus 
Constantino  et  Basilio  impe- 
trassent  Yeneti,  Constanti- 
nopoli  deductum  in  sancti 
Marci  Basilica  fuit  deinde 
solemniter  collocatum.  Pos- 
tremo  et  ultimo,  supplican- 
tibus  Torcellano  Episcopo 
ej  usque  sorore  Abbatissa,  ad 
Ecclesiam  monialium  Sancti 
Johannis  Evangelistae  Tor- 
cellanse  dicecesis,  anno  salu- 
tis  millesimo  nono  defertur  : 
ubi  et  honorifice  conditum, 
perpetuo  cultu  ad  prsesens 
usque  tempus  summopere 
veneratur. 


panion,  and  exhorted  her  to 
fight  manfully  to  the  last. 
Both  of  them  had  their 
breasts  cut  off,  were  dragged 
naked  through  the  streets, 
and  beheaded.  The  head  of 
Barbara  was  cut  off  by  her 
own  father,  who  in  his  exces- 
sive wickedness  had  hardened 
his  heart  thus  far.  But  his 
ferocious  cruelty  was  not 
long  left  unpunished,  for 
instantly,  and  on  the  very 
spot,  he  was  struck  dead  by 
lightning.  The  Emperor 
Justinus  had  the  body  of 
this  most  holy  virgin  trans- 
lated from  Nicomedia  to 
Constantinople.  It  was  after- 
wards obtained  by  the  Vene- 
tians from  the  Emperors 
Constantine  and  Basil ;  and 
having  been  translated  from 
Constantinople  to  Venice, 
was  deposited  with  great  so- 
lemnity in  the  Basilica  of  St. 
Mark.  Lastly,  at  the  earnest 
request  of  the  Bishop  of 
Torcello  and  his  sister,  who 
was  abbess,  it  was  translated 
in  the  year  of  grace  1009,  to 
the  Nuns'  Church  of  St. 
John  the  Evangelist,  in  the 
diocese  of  Torcello  ;  where  it 
was  placed  in  a  worthy  se- 
pulchre, and  from  that  time 
has  never  ceased  to  be  the 
object  of  most  fervent  vene- 
ration. 


Such  is  the  account  of  the  life  and  martyrdom  of 
the  courageous  Virgin  of  Nicomedia.  She  is  invoked 
in  the  Church  against  lightning,  on  account  of  the 
punishment  inflicted  by  divine  justice  on  her  execrable 
father.     This  same  incident  of  the  Saint's  history  has 


DEC.    4.      ST.   BABBAEA. 


345 


suggested  several  Catholic  customs  :  thus,  her  name 
is  sometimes  given  to  the  hold  of  men-of  war  where 
the  ammunition  is  stowed  ;  she  is  the  Patroness  of 
Artillery-men,  Miners,  &c;  and  she  is  invoked  by 
the  faithful  against  the  danger  of  a  sudden  death. 

Of  the  Liturgical  pieces,  used  in  our  Western 
Churches,  in  honour  of  St.  Barbara,  we  will  content 
ourselves  with  the  following  beautiful  Antiphon,  com- 
posed in  the  days  of  chivalry. 


ANTIPHON. 


O  immeasurable  mercy  of 
divine  goodness,  which  did 
enlighten  Barbara  with  the 
brightness  of  the  true  light, 
making  her  worthy,  by  her 
contempt  for  what  was  daz- 
zling in  earthly  grandeur,  to 
be  admitted  to  a  union  with 
God  !  As  the  lily  among 
thorns,  as  light  in  darkness, 
so  shone  Barbara.     Alleluia. 


O  divinas  bonitatis  im- 
mensa  dementia,  quse  Bar- 
baram  illustravit  vero  cla- 
ritatis  lumine,  ut  terrense 
dignitatis  contempto  splen- 
dore,  divinitatis  conscia  ef- 
fici  mereretur :  hasc  velut 
lilium  inter  spinas  enituit, 
et  lux  in  tenebris  eluxit. 
Alleluia. 


The  Greek  Church  is  profuse  in  its  praises  of  St. 
Barbara.  We  will  take  from  the  Menaea  a  few  out 
of  the  many  Strophes  which  are  sung  in  honour  of 
the  holy  Martyr. 


HYMN   OF  THE  GEEEK   CHUECH. 


When  welcome  death  came 
before  thee,  O  venerable  Mar- 
tyr Barbara  !  joyously  and 
nimbly  didst  thou  run  thy 
course,  and  being  immolated 
by  the  wicked  hands  of  an 
impious  parent,  thou  wast 
offered  a  victim  to  God. 
Now,  therefore,  art  thou  in 
the  choir  of  the  truly  wise 
Virgins,  and  contemplatest 
the  beauty  of  thy  Spouse. 


Quando  coram  te,  vene- 
randa  martyr  Barbara,  dul- 
cis  mors  apparuit,  gaudens 
et  festinans  cursum  com- 
plevisti,  impiique  genitoris 
injustis  manibus  sacrificata 
est,  et  Deo  oblata  es  victima: 
unde  vere  prudentium  Vir- 
ginum  conjuncta  choris,  tui 
Sponsi  contemplaris  splen- 
dorem. 


346 


ADVENT. 


Agna  tua,  Jesu,  magna 
voce  clamat :  Te,  Sponse  mi, 
desidero,  et  quserens  te  pug- 
no,  et  confixa  sum  et  con- 
sepulta  tuo  baptismati,  et 
patior  propter  te,  ut  reg- 
nem  tecum ;  et  morior  pro 
te,  ut  et  vivam  in  te :  igitur  ut 
sacrificium  irreprehensibile 
suscipe  amanter  sacrificatam 
tibi.  Illius  precibus  ut  mi- 
sericors,  salva  animas  nos- 
tras. 

E  spinosa  exorta  radice, 
rosa  sacratissima,  Ecclesiam 
suaviter  inodorans,  te  rubore 
praslii  per  sanguinem  pur- 
puratam,  gloriosa  Barbara, 
nunc  dignissime  beatam  cele- 
bramus. 

ISTon  deliciarum  jucundi- 
tas,  non  pulchritudinis  flos, 
neque  divitise,  neque  ju- 
ventutis  voluptates  te  mul- 
serunt,  Barbara  gloriosa, 
Christo  desponsata,  pulcher- 
rima  virgo. 

In  certamine  tuo  omnes 
obstupefecisti ;  nam  tole- 
rasti  tyrannorum  cruciatus, 
vincula,  tormenta,  Barbara 
celeberrima :  quapropter  et 
corona  Deus  te  donavit 
quam  desiderasti  :  cum  ani- 
mo  cucurristi,  et  ille  sanam 
te  fecit. 


Sponsum  tuum  Christum 
adamata  lampadis  fuse  ful- 
gore  praeparato  virtutibus 
refulsisti,  laude  digna  :  un- 
de  ingressa  es  cum  eo  ad 
nuptias,  ab  eo  recipiens 
certaminis  coronam  :  sed  a 
periculis    libera    nos     cele- 


This  lamb  of  thine,  O 
Jesus,  cries  to  thee  with  a 
loud  voice :  Thee,  O  my 
Spouse,  do  I  desire,  thee  do 
I  seek  by  my  combat  ;  I  am 
immolated  and  buried  in  thy 
baptism;  I  suffer  for  thee, 
that  I  may  reign  with  thee  ; 
I  die  for  thee,  that  I  may  live 
in  thee ;  receive  me,  there- 
fore, as  an  unreserved  sacri- 
fice lovingly  sacrificed  to 
thee.  Save  our  souls,  O  mer- 
ciful Jesus,  by  her  prayers. 

Glorious  Barbara  I  most 
sacred  rose  grown  out  of  a 
thorny  stem,  sweetly  perfum- 
ing the  Church,  and  ruddy 
by  the  blood  of  thy  battle  ! 
we  this  day  most  fervently 
proclaim  thee  blessed. 

Neither  the  sweetness  of 
luxury,  nor  the  flower  of 
beauty,  nor  riches,  nor  the 
pleasures  of  youth,  could  rob 
thee  of  thy  energy,  O  glorious 
Barbara,  most  fair  Virgin, 
espoused  to  Christ. 

All  stood  in  amazement  at 
witnessing  thy  combat ;  for 
thou  didst  endure  the  tor- 
tures, and  chains,  and  cruel- 
ties, of  thy  persecutors,  O 
Barbara,  of  wide- world  fame! 
Therefore,  did  God  give  thee 
the  crown  thou  didst  covet ; 
thou  didst  run  thy  course 
with  courage,  and  he  healed 
thee. 

Full  of  love  for  Jesus  thy 
Spouse,  thy  bright  lamp  was 
well  trimmed,  and  thy  vir- 
tues shed  forth  their  splen- 
dour, O  Virgin,  worthy  of 
praise  !  Therefore  didst  thou 
enter  in  with  Christ  to 
the    marriage -feast,  and    he 


DEC,   4.      ST.  BARBARA. 


347 


wreathed  thee  with  the  crown 
of  thy  combat.  We  celebrate 
thy  memory,  O  Barbara  ! 
Deliver  ns  from  danger. 

By  those  three  apertures, 
which  thou  would  st  have  to 
thy  bath,  thou  didst  sym- 
bolise, O  Barbara,  the  mys- 
tery of  Baptism,  which,  by 
the  light  of  the  Trinity,  im- 
parts to  our  souls  a  cleansing 
that  illuminates. 

Fleeing  the  terrible  vio- 
lence of  her  father,  a  rock  im- 
mediately opened  a  reception 
of  safety  to  Barbara,  as  hap- 
pened heretofore  to  the  illus- 
trious Protomartyr  of  her 
sex,  Thecla,  for  whom  Christ 
worked  a  like  miracle. 

O  Martyr  Barbara  !  thou 
wast  sacrificed  with  a  sword, 
by  thy  father,  like  in  this  to 
Abraham ;  but  his  devoted- 
ness  was  to  the  devil. 

Jesus  appeared  to  thee,  O 
Barbara,  in  thy  prison  :  he 
was  surrounded  by  light  in- 
accessible, but  he  came  to 
animate  thy  confidence,  heal 
thy  wounds  and  make  thee 
glad  :  this  gave  wings  to  thy 
love  of  thy  Lord. 

When  for  Christ's  sake  thou 
wast  stripped  of  thy  gar- 
ments, O  venerable  Barbara ! 
a  bright  Angel  clothed  thee, 
as  a  bride,  with  a  splendid 
robe,  which  covered  thy 
wounds  ;  for  thou  hast  put 
on  the  stole  which  gives  crea- 
tures a  divine  transforma- 
tion. 

Thy  prophecy,  0  Christ, 
has  been  evidently  fulfilled  : 
for  the  father  delivers  his 
daughter  up  to  death,  nay 


brantes,  Barbara,  tui  memo- 
riam. 


Tribus  ostiolis  lavacrum 
illustrari  juben?,  mystice 
indicasti  Baptisma,  O  Bar- 
bara, Trinitatis  lumine  ani- 
mabus  splendidani  suppetens 
purgationem. 


Furore  terribili  patris  de- 
clinato,  Barbaram  statim 
se  scindens  mons  recepit, 
ut  olim  illustrem  Protomar- 
tyrem  Theclam,  miraculum 
operante  Christo. 


Gladio  te,  martyr  Barbara, 
immolans  pater,  Abraham 
alter,  sed  diabolo  favit. " 


Apparuit  Christus  in  lu- 
mine inaccessibili  tibi  in- 
clusse,  O  Barbara,  in  carcere, 
ut  confidentem  te  incitans,  et 
vibices  sanans  et  hetitiam 
praebens  :  unde  alas  accepisti 
Sponsi  tui  amore. 

Angelus  fulgidus  te,  prop- 
ter Christum  denudatam 
veneranda  Barbara,  vestivit, 
ut  sponsam,  veste  splendida 
quae  vulnera  texit ;  stolam 
enim  induisti  divinam  affe- 
rentem  mutationem. 


Demonstrata  est  evidentar, 
Christe,  prophetia  tua  adim- 
pleta  !  pater  namque  filiam 
ad  csedem  tradit,  ipse  artifex 


348  ADVENT. 

jugulationis ;    qui  improbus  himself   becomes   her   mur- 

genitor    tuae    martyris     stu-  derer ;  but  this  cruel  parent 

pendo  modo  e  ccelo  igne  con-  of  thy  Martyr  is,  in  a  wonder- 

sumitur.  ful  manner,  consumed  by  fire 

from  heaven. 
Athleticam  ingressa  viam,  Thou,  most  honoured  Vir- 
paternam  renuisti  volunta-  gin,  having  entered  the  path 
tern,  tota  honorabilis,  et  virgo  of  combatants,  didst  resist 
quidem  sapiens  iampadem  thy  father's  demands,  and,  as 
ferens,  egressa  es  ad  man-  a  wise  virgin  bearing  her 
siones  Domini  tui ;  et  ut  lamp,  thou  didst  go  into  the 
Martyr  generosa,  gratiam  ac-  mansions  of  thy  Lord  ;  he 
cepisti  sanandi  carnis  puti-  gave  thee,  O  generous  Mar- 
dam  pestilentiam  :  et  nos  tyr,  the  power  to  drive  away 
hymnificantes  te,  spirituali-  pestilence  ;  pray  to  God  for 
bus  doloribus  libera  tuis  ad  us  who  hymn  thy  praises,  and 
Deum  precibus.  deliver  us  from  our  spiritual 

diseases. 

To  this  the  voice  of  so  many  Cnurches  we  join  ours, 
O  faithful  Virgin  !  and  though  we  are  unworthy,  yet 
do  we  offer  thee  our  praise  and  our  prayers.  Behold  S 
our  Lord  cometh,  and  the  darkness  of  the  night  is 
upon  us  ;  give  to  our  lamp  both  the  light  which  will 
guide  us,  and  the  oil  which  will  keep  in  the  light. 
Thou  knowest  that  he  who  came  for  love  of  thee, 
and  with  whom  thou  art  now  united  for  all  eternity, 
is  coming  to  visit  us  too ;  pray  for  us  that  nothing 
may  keep  us  from  receiving  him.  May  we  go  towards 
him  courageously  and  swiftly  as  thou  didst,  and  being 
once  with  him,  may  we  never  be  separated  from  him 
again,  for  he  is  the  centre  where  we  creatures  find 
our  only  rest.  Pray  also,  0  glorious  Martyr,  that  the 
faith  in  the  Blessed  Trinity  may  be  ever  increasing 
in  this  world.  May  our  enemy,  Satan,  be  confounded 
by  every  tongue's  confessing  the  Threefold  light,  and 
the  triumphant  Cross  which  sanctifies  the  waters  of 
Baptism.  Remember,  O  blessed  Barbara,  thou  Spouse 
of  Jesus,  that  he  has  put  in  thy  gentle  hands  the 
power  not  of  burling  but  of  staying  and  averting  the 
thunderbolt.  Protect  our  ships  against  the  fires  of 
heaven  and  of  war.     Shield  by  thy  protection  the 


DEC.  4.      ST.  BARBARA.  349 

arsenals  where  are  placed  the  defence  of  our  country. 
Hear  the  prayers  of  them  that  invoke  thee,  whether 
in  the  fierceness  of  the  storm,  or  in  the  dark  depths 
of  the  earth  ;  and  save  us  all  from  the  awful  chas- 
tisement of  a  sudden  death. 


Let  us  consider  how  the  various  nations  on  the 
face  of  the  earth,  though  differing  in  customs,  and 
speech,  and  interests,  are  all  united  in  the  expecta- 
tion of  a  Deliverer  soon  to  come.  Neither  the  fright- 
ful corruption  of  morals,  nor  the  loog  ages  which 
have  passed  since  the  promises  were  given,  have  been 
able  to  efface  the  tradition,  or  the  hope  it  inspired. 
At  the  very  time  when  the  world  seems  crumbling 
into  dissolution,  there  is  evinced  a  strong  symptom 
of  vigour,  and  from  one  end  of  the  earth  to  the  other 
there  is  heard  this  cry :  The  King  of  the  universe  is 
soon  to  appear;  a  new  Empire,  holy  and  everlasting, 
is  to  bring  all  peoples  into  one.  It  is  thus,  O  Jesus  ! 
that  Jacob  prophesied  on  his  dying  bed,  when  he 
said,  speaking  of  thee :  He  shall  be  the  Expectation 
of  nations.1  Men  have,  indeed,  searched  after,  and 
found,  the  way  to  the  lowest  degradation  ;  but  they 
could  not  prevent  the  fulfilment  of  this  prophecy  : 
and  by  their  expectation  of  a  happier  state  of  things, 
they  themselves  fulfil  it ;  and  by  fulfilling  it,  are  con- 
fessing that  their  misery  has  no  remedy  save  thyself. 
Come,  then,  O  Son  of  God  !  and  cherish  this  ray  of 
hope,  of  the  ancient  world,  which  renders  thee  this 
its  only  homage,  even  whilst  falling  under  the  weight 
of  its  own  wretchedness.  The  expectation  of  a  De- 
liverer is  the  bond  of  union  between  the  two  great 
divisions  of  the  human  race,  those  who  preceded  and 
those  who  have  lived  since  thy  Nativity.  But,  if  the 
pagan  world,  from  the  depth  of  its  vices  and  errors, 
could  sigh  after  thee,  O  Jesus  !  what  shall  we  not  do, 

1  Gen.  xlix.  10. 


350  ADVENT. 

who  have  inherited  what  was  promised,  now  that 
thou  art  preparing  to  come  and  take  possession  of 
our  souls  %  We  already  know  thee,  for  thou  hast 
initiated  us  into  thy  Mysteries ;  we  cannot  do  less, 
dear  Jesus !  we  are  longing  for  thee  during  these 
days  of  Advent.  When  the  beautiful  day  of  thy 
visit  comes,  mayst  thou  find  that  thy  love  is  already 
in  our  hearts.  Make  our  expectation  more  fervid, 
increase  our  faith,  and  Come  ! 


RESPONSORY  OF   ADVENT. 

(Roman  Breviary,  Matins  of  the  First  Sunday.) 

y.    Salvatorem    exspecta-  "ff.  We  look  for  the  Saviour, 

mus  Dominum  Jesum  Chris-  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  *  Who 

turn  ;  *  Qui  reformabit  cor-  will  reform  the  body  of  our 

pus  kumiiitatis  nostra  con-  lowliness  made  like  to  the 

figuratum   corpori    claritatis  Body  of  his  glory,    ^f.  Let  us 

suae.    if.  Sobrie,  juste,  et  pie,  live  soberly,  and  justly,  and 

vivamus  in  hoc  sseculo,  ex-  piously  in  this  world,  looking 

epectantes  beatam  spem,  et  for    the    blessed    hope    and 

Adventum  gloria?  magni  Dei,  Coming  of  the  glory  of  the 

*  Qui  reformabit  corpus  hu-  great  God,  *  Who  will  reform 

militatis    nostra?    configura-  the  body  of    our  lowliness 

turn  corpori  claritatis  sua?.  made  like  to  the  Body  of  his 

glory. 


dec.  5.    commemoration  of  st.  sab  as.    351 

December  5. 
COMMEMORATION   OF    ST.   SABAS,   ABBOT. 


The  Roman  Church  confines  herself  to-day  to  the 
Office  of  the  Feria ;  but  to  that  she  joins  a  Comme- 
moration of  St.  Sabas,  Abbot  of  the  celebrated  Laura 
of  Palestine,  which  still  exists  under  his  name.     This 
Saint,  who  died  in  533,  is  the  only  one  of  the  Monas- 
tic Order  of  whom  the  Church  makes  any  mention 
in  her  Liturgy  during  the  whole  period  of  Advent ; 
we  might  even  say  that  he  is  the  only  simple  Con- 
fessor whose  name  occurs  in  the  Calendar  of  this 
part  of  the  year  ;  for,  as  regards  St.  Francis  Xavier, 
the  glorious  title  of  Apostle  of  the  Indies  puts  him 
in  a  distinct  class  of  Saints.     Here  again  we  should 
recognise  Divine  Providence,  which  has  selected,  for 
these  days  of  preparation  for  Christmas,  those  Saints 
whose  characteristic  virtues  would  make  them  our 
fittest  models  in  this  work  of  preparation.     We  have 
the   feasts  of  Apostles,   Pontiffs,  Doctors,  Virgins : 
Jesus,  the  Man-God,  the  King  and  Spouse  of  men, 
is  preceded  by  this  magnificent  procession  of  the 
noblest  of  his  servants  :  simple  Confession  has  but  a 
single   representative,  the  Anchoret  and   Cenobite 
Sabas,  who,  by  his  profession  of  the  monastic  life, 
is  of  that  family  of  holy  solitaries,  which  began  with 
the  Prophet  Elias   under  the  Old  Testament,  and 
continued  up  to  the  time  of  St.  John  the  Precursor, 
who  was  one  of  its  members,  and  will  continue  on, 
during  the  New  Covenant,  until  the  last  Coming  of 
Jesus.    Let  us,  then,  honour  this  holy  Abbot,  towards 
whom  the  Greek  Church  professes  a  filial  veneration, 
and  under  whose  invocation  Borne  has  consecrated 


352  ADVENT. 

one  of  her  Churches.     Let  us  beg  his  prayers  by  this 
Collect  of  the  holy  Liturgy  : 

COLLECT. 

Intercessio  nos,  qusesumus,  May  the  intercession,  we 

Domine,  beati  Sabse  Abbatis  beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  of  the 

commendet,  ut  quod  nostris  blessed  Abbot  Sabas  recom- 

meritis    non    valemus, .  ejus  mend,  us  to  thee  ;  that  what 

patrocinio  assequamur.     Per  we  cannot  hope  for  through 

Christum     Dominum     nos-  our  own  merits,  we  may  ob- 

trum.    Amen.  tain  by  his  prayers.  Through 

Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 

O  Sabas,  thou  man  of  desires !  in  thy  expectation 
of  that  Lord,  who  has  bid  his  servants  watch  until  he 
come,  thou  didst  withdraw  into  the  desert,  fearing 
lest  the  turmoil  of  the  world  might  distract  thy  mind 
from  its  God.  Have  pity  on  us  who  are  living  in  the 
world,  and  are  so  occupied  in  the  affairs  of  that  world, 
and  yet  who  have  received  the  commandment  which 
thou  didst  so  take  to  heart,  of  keeping  ourselves  in 
readiness  for  the  Coming  of  our  Saviour,  and  our 
Judge.  Pray  for  us,  that  when  he  comes,  we  may  be 
worthy  to  go  out  to  meet  him.  Remember  also  the 
Monastic  State,  of  which  thou  art  one  of  the  brightest 
ornaments  ;  raise  it  up  again  from  its  ruins ;  let  its 
children  be  men  of  prayer  and  faith,  as  of  old ;  let 
thy  spirit  be  among  them,  and  the  Church  thus 
regain,  by  thy  intercession,  all  the  glory  which  is 
reflected  on  her  from  the  sublime  perfection  of  this 
holy  State. 


Let  us  look  again  at  the  Prophecy  of  Jacob.  The 
holy  Patriarch  not  only  foretells  that  the  Messias 
will  be  the  Expectation  of  nations ;  he  adds,  that 
when  this  promised  Deliverer  comes,  the  sceptre  will 
have  been  taken  away  from  Juda.1   This  oracle  is  now 

1  Gen.  xlix.  10. 


DEC.    5.      COMMEMORATION   OF   ST.   SABAS.      353 

filled.  The  flag  of  Caesar  Augustus  floats  on  the 
ramparts  of  Jerusalem.  The  Temple  is  still  un- 
touched ;  the  abomination  of  desolation  stands  not 
yet  in  the  holy  place ;  sacrifices  are  there  still  offered 
up  to  God  :  but  then,  the  true  Temple  of  God,  the 
Incarnate  Word,  has  not  yet  been  built ;  the  Syna- 
gogue has  not  denied  Him,  who  was  her  expectation; 
the  Victim,  that  was  to  supersede  all  others,  has  not 
been  immolated.  Yet,  Juda  has  no  Chief  of  her  own 
race ;  Caesar's  coin  is  current  throughout  all  Pales- 
tine ;  and  the  day  is  not  far  off  when  the  leaders  of 
the  Jewish  people  will  own,  in  the  presence  of  the 
Roman  Governor,  that  they  have  not  the  power  to  put 
any  man  to  death.1  So  that  there  is  now  no  King 
upon  the  throne  of  David  and  Solomon,  that  throne 
which  was  to  abide  for  ever.  O  Jesus  !  Son  of  David, 
and  King  of  Peace,  now  is  the  time  when  thou  must 
show  thyself,  and  take  possession  of  the  Sceptre 
which  has  been  taken  in  battle  from  the  hand  of 
Juda,  and  put,  for  a  time,  into  that  of  an  Emperor. 
Come !  for  thou  art  King,  and  the  Psalmist,  thy  an- 
cestor, thus  saug  of  thee  :  "  Gird  thy  sword  upon  thy 
"  thigh,  O  thou  most  Mighty  !  With  thy  comeliness 
"  and  thy  beauty  set  out,  proceed  prosperously,  and 
"  reign,  because  of  truth  and  meekness  and  justice, 
"  and  thy  right  hand  shall  conduct  thee  wonderfully. 
"  Thy  arrows  are  sharp :  under  thee  shall  people  fall  : 
"  thy  arroivs  shall  go  into  the  hearts  of  the  King's 
•'  enemies.  Thy  throne  is  for  ever  and  ever ;  the 
"  sceptre  of  the  kingdom  is  a  sceptre  of  uprightness. 
"  .  .  .  .  God,  thy  God,  hath  anointed  thee,  0  Christ ! 
"  who  tahest  thence  thy  name,  with  the  oil  of  gladness 
"  above  thy  fellows,  who  have  been  honoured  with 
"  the  name  of  King"2  When  thou  art  come,  O 
Messias  !  men  will  be  no  more  as  sheep  going  astray 
without  a  shepherd ;  there  will  be  but  one  fold,  in 

1  St.  John,  xviii.  31.  2  Ps.  xliv. 

2  A 


354  ADVENT. 

which  thou  wilt  reign  by  love  and  justice,  for  all 
power  will  be  given  unto  thee  in  heaven  and  on 
earth.  When,  in  the  hour  of  thy  Passion,  thy  enemies 
shall  ask  thee:  Art  thou  King  I  thou  wilt  answer 
them  in  all  truth :  Verily,  I  am.1  Come,  dearest 
King,  and  reign  over  our  hearts ;  come,  and  reign 
over  this  world,  which  is  thine  because  thou  didst 
create  it,  and  will  soon  be  thine  because  thou  wilt 
have  redeemed  it.  Reign,  then,  over  this  world,  and 
delay  not  the  manifestation  of  thy  royal  power  until 
the  day  of  which  it  is  written  :  he  will  break  Kings 
in  the  day  of  his  wrath;2  reign  from  this  very  hour, 
and  let  all  people  fall  at  thy  feet  and  adore  thee  in 
one  grand  homage  of  love  and  obedience. 


SEQUENCE   FOR    THE   TIME   OF   ADVENT. 

{Composed  in  the  Wth  century,  and  taken  from  the  ancient 
Roman-French  Missals.) 

Qui  regis  sceptra  f orti  dex-        O  thou,  that  in  the  might 
tra  solus  cuncta ;  of    thy    right    hand,    alone 

rulest  over  all  sceptres, 

Tu    plebi    tuam    ostende        Raise  up  thy  great  power, 
magnam    excitando    poten-    and  show  it  to  the  people, 
tiam  ; 

Praesta  illi  dona  salutaria.  To  whom  grant  the  gifts  of 

salvation. 

Quern    prsedixerunt     pro-        Jesus,  whom  the  oracles  of 
phetica  vaticinia,  the  prophets  foretold, 

A  clara  poll  regia,  Send  him  from  the  bright 

palace  of  heaven, 

In    nostra    Jesum    mitte,        Send  him,  0  Lord,  into  our 
Domine,  arva.  land 

Amen.  Amen. 

1  St.  John,  xviil  37.  2  Ps.  eix. 


dec.  6.    st.  nicholas.  3 

December  6. 
SAINT  NICHOLAS,  BISHOP  OF  MYRA, 

AND   CONFESSOR. 


Divine  Wisdom  has  willed  that  on  the  way  which 
leads  to  the  Messias,  our  Great  High  Priest,  there 
should  be  many  Pontiffs  to  pay  him  the  honour  due 
to  him.  Two  Popes,  St.  Melchiades  and  St.  Damasus ; 
two  Holy  Doctors,  St.  Peter  Chrysologus  and  St. 
Ambrose;  two  Bishops,  St.  Nicholas  and  St.  Eusebius: 
these  are  the  glorious  Pontiffs  who  have  been  en- 
trusted with  the  charge  of  preparing,  by  their  prayers, 
the  way  of  the  Christian  people  towards  Him,  who 
is  the  Sovereign  Priest  according  to  the  order  of 
Melchisedecb.  As  each  of  their  feasts  comes,  w& 
will  show  their  right  to  have  been  thu£  admitted 
into  the  court  of  Jesus.  To-day  the  Church  cele- 
brates with  joy  the  feast  of  the  great  Thaumaturgus 
Nicholas,  who  is  to  the  Greek  Church  what  St. 
Martin  is  to  us.  The  Church  of  Rome  has  honoured 
the  name  of  Nicholas  for  nearly  a  thousand  years. 
Let  us  admire  the  wonderful  power  which  God  gave 
him  over  creation  ;  but  let  us  offer  him  our  most 
fervent  congratulations  in  that  he  was  permitted  to 
be  one  of  the  three  hundred  and  eighteen  Bishops,  who 
proclaimed,  at  Nicsea,  that  the  Word  is  Consubstam- 
tial  to  the  Father.  The  humiliations  ,of  the  Son  of 
God  did  not  scandalise  him.  Neither  the  lowliness 
of  the  flesh,  which  the  Sovereign  Lord  of  all  things 
assumed  to  himself  in  the  womb  of  the  Virgin,  nor 
the  poverty  of  the  crib,  hindered  him  from  confess- 
ing to  be  Son  of  God,  equal  to  God,  Him  who  is  the 
Son  of  Mary  :  and  for  this  reason,  God  has  glorified 
this  his  servant,  and  given  him  the  power  to  obtain, 


356 


ADVENT. 


each  year,  for  the  children  of  the  Church,  the  grace 
of  receiving  this  same  Jesus,  the  Word,  with  simple 
faith  and  fervent  love.  Let  us  now  listen  to  the 
eulogy  of  St.  Nicholas,  which  the  Rornan  Church  has 
inserted  in  her  Liturgy. 


Nicolaum-,  illustri  loco  Pa- 
targe  in  Lycia  natum,  paren- 
tes  a  Deo  precious  impetra- 
runt.  Cujus  viri  sanctitas, 
quanta  futura  esset,  jam  ab 
incimabulis  apparuit.  Ham 
infans,  quum  reliquos  dies 
lac  nutricis  frequens  sugeret, 
quarta  et  sexta  feria  semel 
duntaxat,  idque  vesperi,  su- 
gehat :  quam  jejunii  consue- 
tudinem  in  rehqua  vita  sem- 
per tenuit.  Adolescens  pa- 
rentibus  orbatus,  facilitates 
suas  pauperibus  distribuit. 
Cujus  illud  insigne  est  Chris- 
tianas benignitatis  exem- 
plum,  quod  quum  ejus  civis 
egens  tres  filias  jam  nubiles 
in  matrimonio  collocare  non 
posset,  earumque  pudicitiam 
prostituere  cogitaret  :  re 
cognita,  Nicolaus  noctu  per 
fenestram  tantum  pecuniae 
in  ejus  domum  injecit,  quan- 
tum unius  virginis  doti  satis 
esset :  quod  quum  iterum  et 
tertio  fecisset,  tres  illae  vir- 
gines  honestis  viris,  in  matri- 
monium  datae  sunt. 


Quum  vero  se  totum  Deo 
dedisset,  in  Palaestinam  pro- 
lectus    est,    ut    loca   sancta 


Nicholas  was  born  in  the 
celebrated  city  of  Patara,  in 
the  province  of  Lycia.  His 
birth  was  the  fruit  of  his 
parents'  prayers.  Evidences 
of  his  great  future  holiness 
were  given  from  his  very 
cradle.  For  when  he  was  an 
infant,  he  would  only  take 
his  food  once  on  Wednesdays 
and  Fridays,  and  then  not 
till  evening  ;  whilst  on  all 
other  days  he  frequently  took 
the  breast :  he  kept  up  this 
custom  of  fasting  during  the 
rest  of  his  life.  Having  lost 
his  parents  when  he  was  a 
boy,  he  gave  all  his  goods  to 
the  poor.  Of  his  Christian 
kindheartedness  there  is  the 
following  noble  example. 
One  of  his  fellow-citizens  had 
three  daughters  ;  but  being 
too  poor  to  obtain  them  an 
honourable  marriage,  he  was 
minded  to  abandon  them  to 
a  life  of  prostitution.  Nicho- 
las having  got  to  know  the 
case,  went  to  the  house  during 
the  night  and  threw  in  by  the 
window  a  sum  of  money  suf- 
ficient for  the  dower  of  one 
of  the  daughters  ;  he  did  the 
same  a  second  and  a  third 
time ;  and  thus  the  three 
were  married  to  respectable 
men. 

Having  given  himself 
wholly  to  the  service  of  God, 
he  set  out  for  Palestine,  that 


DEC.   6.      ST.   NICHOLAS. 


357 


he  might  visit  and  venerate 
the  holy  places.  During  this 
pilgrimage,  which  he  made 
by  sea,  he  foretold  to  the 
mariners,  on  embarking, 
though  the  heavens  were  then 
serene  and  the  sea  tranquil, 
that  they  would  be  overtaken 
by  a  frightful  storm.  In  a 
very  short  time,  the  storm 
arose.  All  were  in  the  most 
imminent  danger,  when  he 
quelled  it  by  his  prayers. 
His  pilgrimage  ended,  he  re- 
turned home,  giving  to  all 
men  example  of  the  greatest 
sanctity.  He  went,  by  an  in- 
spiration from  God,  to  Myra, 
the  Metropolis  of  Lycia,  which 
had  just  lost  its  Bishop  by 
death,  and  the  Bishops  of  the 
province  had  come  together 
for  the  purpose  of  electing  a 
successor.  Whilst  they  were 
holding  council  for  the  elec- 
tion, they  were  told  by  a  re- 
velation from  heaven,  that 
they  should  choose  him  who, 
on  the  morrow,  should  be  the 
first  to  enter  the  church,  his 
name  being  Nicholas.  Accor- 
dingly, the  requisite  observa- 
tions were  made,  when  they 
found  Nicholas  to  be  waiting 
at  the  church  door :  they 
took  him,  and,  to  the  incre- 
dible delight  of  all,  made  him 
the  Bishop  of  Myra.  Dur- 
ing his  episcopate,  he  never 
flagged  in  the  virtues  looked 
for  in  a  bishop ;  chastity, 
which  indeed  he  had  always 
preserved,  gravity,  assiduity 
in  prayer,  watchings,  absti- 
nence, generosity,  and  hospi- 
tality, meekness  in  exhorta- 
tion, severity  in  reproving. 


viseret,  et  prsesens  venera- 
retur.  Qua  in  peregrinatione 
navem  conscendens  sereno 
coelo  et  tranquillo  mari,  hor- 
ribilem  nautis  tempestatem 
praedixit :  moxque  ortam, 
quum  essent  omnes  in  summo 
periculo,  orans  mirabiliter  se- 
davit.  Unde  quum  domum 
reversus  singularis  sanctitatis 
omnibus  documenta  praebe- 
ret,  Dei  admonitu  Myram, 
quae  Lyciae  metropolis  erat, 
venit :  quo  tempore  ejus  urbis 
episcopo  mortuo,  provinciales 
episcopi  de  successore  deli- 
gendo  consultabant.  Itaque 
in  ea  deliberatione  divinitus 
admoniti  sunt,  ut  eum  elige- 
rent,  qui  postridie  mane  pri- 
mus in  ecclesiam  ingredere- 
tur,  Nicolaus  nomine.  Qua 
observation  e  adhibita,  in 
ecclesiae  janua  deprehensus 
est  Nicolaus,  et  summo  om- 
nium consensu  Myrae  Epis- 
copus  creatur.  In  episcopatu 
castitatem,  quam  semper  col- 
uerat,  gravitatem,  orationis 
assiduitatem,  vigilias,  absti- 
nentiam,  liberalitatem  et 
hospitalitatem,  in  adhortan- 
do  mansuetudinem,  in  repre- 
hendendo  severitatem,  perpe- 
tuo  adhibuit. 


358 


ADVENT. 


Viduis  et  orphanis  pecu- 
nia,  consilio,  op  ere  non  de- 
f uit :  oppressos  adeo  subleva- 
vit,  ut  etiam  tres  Tribunes, 
per  calunmiam  a  Constantino 
Augusto  condemnatos,  qui  se 
propter  famam  miraculorum 
ejus  orationibus,  longissime 
absenti,commendarant,adhuc 
vivens,  quum  Imperatori.  mi- 
naciter  eum  terrens,  appa- 
ruisset  liberaverit.  Quum 
vero  contra  edietum  Diocle- 
tiani  et  Maximiani  Chris- 
tianas fidei  veritatem  Myra3 
prasdicaret,  ab  Iniperatorum 
satellitibus  comprehensus,  et 
longissime  abductus  in  car- 
cerem  conjeetus  est ;  ubi  f  uit 
usque  ad  Constantinum  Im- 
peratorem  :  cujus  jussu  ex 
custodia  ereptus,  Myram 
rediit.  Mox  ad  Nicaenum 
Concilium  se  contulit  :  ubi 
cum  trecentis  illis  decern  et 
octo  Patribus  Arianam  hsere- 
sim  condemnavit.  Inde  re- 
versns  ad  episcopatum,  non 
ita  multopost  instante  morte, 
saspiciens  in  ccelum,  quum 
Angelos  sibi  occurrentes  in- 
tueretur,  illo  Psalmo  pronun- 
ciato :  In  te,  Domine,  speravi, 
usque  ad  eum  locum  :  In 
maims  tuas  commendo  spiri- 
tum  meum  :  in  ccelestem  pa- 
triam  migravit.  Ejus  cor- 
pus Barium  in  Apulia  trans- 
latum,  ibidem  summa  cele- 
britate  ac  veneratione  colitur. 


He  befriended  widows  and 
orphans  by  money,  by  advice, 
and  by  every  service  in  his 
power.  So  zealous  a  de- 
fender was  he  of  all  who  suf- 
fered oppression,  that,  on 
one  occasion,  three  Tribunes 
having  been  condemned  by 
the  Emperor  Constantine, 
who  had  been  deceived  by 
calumny,  and  having  heard 
of  the  miracles  wrought  by 
Nicholas,  they  recommended 
themselves  to  his  prayers, 
though  he  was  living  at  a 
very  great  distance  from  that 
place  :  the  saint  appeared  to 
Constantine,  and  angrily 
looking  upon  him,  obtained 
from  the  terrified  Emperor 
their  deliverance.  Having, 
contrary  to  the  edict  _  of 
Dioclesian  and  Maximian, 
preached  in  Myra  the  truth 
of  the  Christian  faith,  he  was 
taken  up  by  the  servants  of 
the  two  Emperors.  He  was 
taken  off  to  a  great  distance 
andthrown  into  prison,  where 
he  remained  until  Constan- 
tine, having  become  Emperor, 
ordered  his  rescue,  and  the 
Saint  returned  to  Myra. 
Shortly  afterwards,  he  repair- 
ed to  the  Council  which  was 
being  held  at  Nicsea  :  there  he 
took  part  with  the  three  hun- 
dred and  eighteen  Fathers  in 
condemning  the  Arian  heresy. 
Scarcely  had  he  returned  to  his 
See.  than  he  was  taken  with 
the  sickness  of  which  he  soon 
died.  Looking  up  to  heaven, 
and  seeing  Angels  coming  to 
meet  him,  he  began  the 
Psalm,  In  thee,  0  Lord,  have 


DEC.    6.      ST.   NICHOLAS,  359 

I  hoped;  and  having  come 
to  those  words,  Into  thy 
hands  I  commend  my  spirit, 
his  soul  took  its  flight  to  the 
heavenly  country.  His  body, 
having  been  translated  to 
Bari  in  Apulia,  is  the  object 
of  universal  veneration. 

Almost  all  the  Breviaries  of  the  Latin  Church,  up 
to  the  17th  century,  contain  most  fervent  praises  of 
the  virtues  and  miracles  of  St.  Nicholas,  and  give  the 
beautiful  Office  of  the  holy  Bishop,  which  was  com- 
posed about  the  12th  century.  We  have  spoken 
elsewhere  upon  this  Office,  as  far  as  regards  the 
music ;  at  present  we  will  only  mention  its  being 
drawn  up  exclusively  on  the  Acts  of  St.  Nicholas, 
and  its  being  more  explicit  on  some  circumstances 
of  the  Saint's  life  than  is  the  Legend  of  the  Roman 
Breviary.  The  following  portions  of  this  Office  dwell 
with  complacency  on  a  fact  which  is  not  mentioned 
in  our  Liturgy  :  we  mean  the  miraculous  oil,  which, 
for  almost  eight  hundred  years,  has  flowed  without 
ceasing  from  the  tomb  of  the  holy  Bishop,  and  by 
means  of  which  God  has  frequently  wrought  miracles. 
The  Responsory  and  Antiphon,  which  we  give,  are 
upon  the  miracle  of  the  oil  itself.  They  were 
formerly  so  familiar  to  the  faithful,  that  in  the  13th 
century  their  music  was  sung  to  the  Responsory 
Unus  Panis,  and  to  the  Antiphon  0  quam  suavis 
est,  of  the  Office  of  Corpus  Christi. 

RESPONSORY. 
1$.  From  his  marble  tomb  1$.  Ex  ejus  tumba  marmo- 
there  flows  a  holy  oil,  where-  rea  sacrum  resudat  oleum, 
with  the  blind  are  anointed  quo  liniti  sanantur  casci  : 
and  healed  :  *  The  deaf  re-  *  Surdis  auditus  redditur  : 
cover  their  hearing  :  and  the  et  debilis  quisque  sospes  re- 
weak  return  home  strong,  greditur.  ft.  Catervatim.ru- 
ft.  The  people  rush  in  crowds,  unt  populi  cernere  cupientes, 
desiring  to  witness  the  quae  per  eum  fiunt  mirabilia. 
wonderful  works  which  are  *  Surdis  auditus  redditur : 


360 


ADVENT. 


et  debilis  quisque 
greditur. 


re-  done  by  him.  *  The  deaf 
recover  their  hearing  :  and 
the  weak  return  home  strong. 

ANTIPHON. 


O  Christi  pietas  omni  pro- 
sequenda  laude !  Quae  sui 
famuli  Nicolai  merita  longe, 
lateque  declarat  :  nam  ex 
tumba  ejus  oleum  manat, 
cunctosque  languidos  sanat. 


O  !  the  mercy  of  Christ, 
worthy  of  all  our  praise ! 
which  makes  known,  through 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
world,  the  merits  of  his  ser- 
vant Nicholas  :  for  from  his 
tomb  there  flows  an  oil,  and 
it  heals  all  that  are  infirm. 


HYMN   I. 


Pange  lingua  Nicolai 
Prsesulis  praeconium, 
Ut  nos  summus  Adonai 
Rex  et  Pater  omnium, 
Ad  salutis  portum  trahi 
Faciat  per  Filium. 

Dum  penderet  ad  mamil- 
lam 
Matris,  ab  infantia, 
Quarta  semel  bibit  illam, 
Atque  sexta  feria  ; 
Ne  per  lactis  puer  stillam, 
Solveret  jejunia. 

Sublimatus  ad  honorem 
Nicolaus  Prsesulis, 
Pietatis  ita  rorem 
Cunctis  pluit  populis  ; 
Ut  vix  parem  aut  majorem 
Habeat  in  sseculis. 

Auro  dato,  violari 
Virgines  prohibuit ; 
Far  in  fame,  vas  in  mari, 
Servat  et  distribuit ; 
Qui  timebant  naufragari, 
Nautis  opem  tribuit. 


A  defunctis  suscitatur 
Furtum  qui  commiserat  ; 
Et  Judaeus  baptizatur, 
Furtumque  recuperat ; 


Tell,  0  my  tongue,  the 
praise  of  the  Pontiff  Nicholas 
that  so  the  sovereign  Adonai, 
the  King  and  Father  of  all 
creatures,  may  grant  us  to 
be  brought  by  his  Son,  to 
the  port  of  salvation. 

When  yet  a  babe  at  his 
mother's  breast,  he  took  it 
but  once  on  each  fourth  and 
sixth  feria,  nor  would  the 
child  break  his  fast  by  one 
drop  of  milk. 

Elevated  to  the  dignity  of 
Pontiff,  Nicholas  so  abun- 
dantly gave  to  all  men  the 
dew  of  piety,  that  scarce 
could  any  age  find  a  better 
or  so  good  a  Pastor. 

He  gives  his  gold  to  secure 
virgins  their  treasure ;  he 
distributes  corn  to  the  people 
in  a  famine  ;  he  brings  up 
from  the  depths  of  the  sea  a 
vase  that  had  fallen  in  ;  he 
brings  help  to  mariners  who 
were  well  nigh  to  shipwreck. 

He  brings  to  life  a  dead 
man  who  had  committed  a 
theft ;  the  Jew  is  baptized 
and  recovers  what  had  been 


DEC.    6.      ST.   NICHOLAS. 


361 


stolen  from  him  ;  the  one  is 
restored  to  life  ;  the  other  is 
brought  to  the  faith. 

Nicholas !  thou  fair  gem, 
and  honour,  and  glory  of  the 
priesthood !  help  _  by  thy 
gracious  intercession  the 
whole  people,  the  whole 
clergy;  that  their  minds,  and 
hands,  and  lips,  may  pay 
their  tribute  to  our  God. 

Praise,  power,  and  tri- 
umph, to  the  most  High 
Trinity  !  May  it  give  us  to 
come,  after  this  life,  with  our 
laurel  wreaths  upon  us,  to 
the  joys  which  Nicholas  the 
Blessed  possesses  in  our 
country  of  heaven.    Amen. 


Illi  vita  restauratur ; 
Hie  ad  Mem  properat. 

Nicolae,  sacerdotum 
Decus,  honor,  gloria, 
Plebem  omnem,   clerum  to 

turn, 
Mentes,  manus,  labia, 
Ad  reddendum  Deo  votum, 
Tua  juvet  gratia. 

Sit  laus  sumraae  Trinitati 
Virtus  et  victoria, 
Quae  det  nobis  ut  beati 
Nicolai  gaudia 
Assequamur  laureati, 
Post  vitam  in  patria. 

Amen. 


HYMN   II. 


Let  the  clergy  joyfully 
raise  their  voice  in  song,  and 
magnify  Nicholas  the  father 
and  patron  of  the  clergy;  and 
let  their  chants  give  fresh 
devotion  to  their  already 
fervent  and  docile  heart. 

Let  the  Greeks,  and  Latins, 
and  every  tongue  and  tribe 
and  nation  ;  let  the  sea,  and 
land  ;  let  all,  whatever  their 
sex  or  condition,  guest  or 
citizen  or  stranger,  sing  the 
praises  of  Nicholas  with  one 
like  enthusiasm. 

This  Pontiff,  whose  name 
is  immortal  in  the  memory 
of  men,  ever  gave,  gives, 
and  will  give  favours  to  all ; 
he  will  make  him,  who  was 
pining  away  in  grief,  bloom 
in  joy  as  a  lily. 

Whilst  living  in  the  flesh 
he  spurned  the  deeds  of  the 
flesh;   he  did   nothing   and 


Cleri  patrem  et  patronum 
Nicolaum  prsedicet, 
Lsete  promens  vocis  sonum 
Clerus,  et  magnincet : 
Se    cor    promptum,    se    cor 

pronum 
Sono  vocis  ampliet. 

Grsecus  omnis  et  Latin  us, 
Lingua,  tribus,  natio  : 
Orbis  terrse,  maris  sinus, 
Sexus  et  conditio  ; 
Hospes,  cives,  peregrinus, 
Pari  psallat  studio. 


Semper  dedit,  dat  et  dabit 
Cunctis  beneficia 
Praesul,  cujus  nomen  abit 
Nunquam  e  memoria ; 
Quisque    moestus    germina- 

bit, 
Florens  sicut  lilia. 

Hie  in  carne  constitutus 
Carnis  spernens  opera, 
Nihil  agens  aut  locutus, 


362 


ADVENT. 


Nisi  salutifera  : 
Vinclis  carnis  absolutus, 
Tandem  scandit  sethera. 


spoke  nothing  but  what  was 
unto  salvation ;  and  now, 
having  been  loosed  from  the 
bonds  of  the  flesh,  he  has 
mounted  to  the  starry  realms. 
_  How  great  is  the  power  of 
his  charity,  even  in  this  very 
age,  is  plainly  enough  mani- 
fested by  the  oil  which  flows 
from  his  tomb,  giving  to  all 
people,  that  ask  it,  the  boon 
of  health. 

Praise,  power,  and  triumph 
to  the  most  High  Trinity  ! 
May  it  give  us  to  come,  after 
this  life,  with  our  laurel 
wreaths  upon  us,  to  the  joys 
which  Nicholas  the  Blessed 
possesses  in  our  country  of 
heaven.   Amen. 

It  was  impossible  for  Adam  of  Saint- Victor  to 
remain  silent  in  the  praises  of  St.  Nicholas.  The 
Churches,  in  the  Middle  Ages,  received  from  him 
the  following  beautiful  Sequence. 


Quse  sit  virtus  charitatis 
Hoc  praesenti  sasculo, 
Oleum  declarat  satis, 
Quod  manat  de  tumulo  ; 
Et  dat  munus  sanitatis 
Imploranti  populo. 

Sit  laus  summse  Trinitati, 
Virtus  et  victoria, 
Quse  det  nobis  ut  beati 
Nicolai  gaudia 
Assequamur  laureati, 
Post  vitam  in  patria. 

Amen. 


SEQUENCE. 


Congaudentes  exsultemus 
Vocali  concordia, 
Ad  beati  Nicolai 
Festiva  solemnia. 

Qui  in  cunis  adhuc  jacens, 
Servando  jejunia  : 

A  papillis  coepit  summa 
Promereri  gaudia. 

Adolescens  amplexatur 
Litterarum  studia. 

Alienus  et  immunis 
Ab  omni  lascivia. 

Felix  Confessor, 
Cujus  fuit  dignitatis 
Vox  de  ccelo  nuntia. 

Per  quam  provectus, 
Praesulatus  sublimatur 
Ad  summa  fastigia. 


With  our  hearts  and  songs 
in  unison,  let  us  exult  on  this 
festive  solemnity  of  Blessed 
Nicholas, 

When  a  babe  in  his  cradle, 
he  began  to  fast, 

And  thus  deserved,  before 
weaned  from  the  breast,  the 
joys  of  heaven. 

He  enters,  when  a  boy, 
upon  a  course  of  studies, 

Yet  follows  not,  yet  knows 
not,  impurity. 

Blessed  Confessor  indeed, 
whose  worth  was  known  by 
a  message  from  heaven, 

At  whose  bidding  he  was 
promoted  and  exalted  to  the 
supreme  dignity  of  Pontiff. 


DEC.   6.      ST.   NICHOLAS. 


363 


There  was  in  his  soul  the 
most  tender  compassion, 
which  prompted  him  to  be- 
stow continual  benefits  on 
them  who  suffered  oppres- 
sion. 

He  averted  infamy  from 
virgins  by  the  gold  he  gave  ; 
and  by  the  same  he  relieved 
their  father's  poverty. 

There  were  some  mariners 
had  set  sail ;  when  a  furious 
storm  attacked  them,  and 
their  bark  was  well-nigh 
wrecked  : 

Despairing  of  life,  and  in 
this  extreme  danger,  they  cry 
out  with  one  voice,  saying  : 

"  O  holy  Nicholas  !  help 
us  out  of  these  straits  of 
death,  and  lead  us  into  har- 
bour ! 

"  Yea,  lead  us  into  har- 
bour, thou  whose  kind  heart 
is  ever  ready  to  help  them 
that  are  in  affliction." 

They  prayed ;  nor  was  it 
in  vain  :  for  lo  !  a  voice  was 
heard  saying  :  "  I  am  here  to 
help  you." 

Straightways  arose  a  fa- 
vourable wind  :  the  storm 
was  lulled  :  the  sea  was 
calm. 

From  his  tomb  there  flows 
an  abundant  oil : 

It  heals  all  kinds  of  sick- 
ness, through  the  intercession 
of  the  Saint. 

We  who  are  now  living  in 
this  world,  have  already  suf- 
fered shipwreck  in  the  sea  of 
sin  : 

Ah  !  glorious  Nicholas, 
lead  us  into  the  harbour  of 


Erat  in  ejus  animo 
Pietas  eximia 
Et  oppressis  impendebat 
Multa  beneficia. 


Auro  per  enm  virginum 
Tollitur  infamia, 
Atque  patris  earumdem, 
Levatur  inopia. 

Quidam  nautse  navigantes, 
Et  contra  fluctuum 
Ssevitiam  luctantes, 
Navi  pene  dissolata  ; 

Jam  de  vita  desperantes, 
In  tanto  positi 
Periculo  :  clamantes 
Yoce  dicunt  omnes  una  : 

O  beate  Nicolae, 
Nos  ad  maris  portum  trahe 
De  mortis  angustia, 

Trahe    nos     ad     portum 
maris  : 
Tu  qui  tot  auxiliaris 
Pietatis  gratia. 

Dum    clamarent,   nee  in- 
cassum, 
Ecce  quidam,  dicens  :  Ad- 

sum 
Ad  vestra  prsesidia. 

Statim  aura  datur  grata  ; 
Et  tempestas  fit  sedata, 
Quieverunt  maria. 

Ex  ipsius  tumba  manat 
Unctionis  copia : 

Quae  infirm os  omnes  sanat 
Per  ejus  suffragia. 

Nos   qui    sumus    in    hoc 
mundo 
Vitiorum  in  profundo 
Jam  passi  naufragia, 

Gloriose  Nicolae, 
Ad  salutis  portum  trahe, 


364 


ADVENT. 


Ubi  pax  et  gloria. 

Ipsam  nobis  unctionem 
Impetres  a  Domino, 
Prece  pia  : 

Quae  sanavit  hesionem 
Multorum  peccaminum 
In  Maria. 

Hujus  festum  celebrantes 
Gaudeant  per  saecula ; 

Et  coronet  eos  Christus 
Post  vitae  curricula. 
Amen. 


salvation,where  there  is  peace 
and  glory. 

There  is  an  unction,  which 
thy  merciful  prayers  must  get 
us  from  the  Lord  : 

It  is  that  unction  which 
healed  the  wound  of  Mag- 
dalene's many  sins. 

May  they  that  keep  this 
feast,   come  to  the    eternal 

joys ; 

And  may  Jesus  crown  them 
after  this  life  is  run. 
Amen. 


But  none  of  the  Sequences  of  St.  Nicholas  were  so 
popular  as  the  one  we  now  give.  It  is  to  be  found  in 
a  great  many  Processionals  up  to  the  1 7th  century, 
and  on  its  model  were  composed  innumerable  others, 
which,  though  drawn  up  in  praise  of  various  Patrons, 
not  only  kept  the  measure  and  the  melody,  but  the 
very  expressions,  ingeniously  turned  here  and  there, 
of  the  Sequence  of  St.  Nicholas. 


SEQUENCE. 


Sospitati  dedit  aegros 
Olei  perfusio. 

Nicolaus  naufragantum 
Adf  uit  prsesidio. 

Relevavit  a  defunctis 
Def  unctum  in  bivio. 

Baptizatur  auri  viso 
Judseus  indicio. 

Vas  in  mari  mersum,  patri 
Eedditur  cum  filio. 


O  quam  probat 
Dei 

Farris  augmentatio. 


The  sick  are  restored  to 
health  by  the  miraculous  oil. 

They  who  are  in  danger  of 
shipwreck  are  delivered  by 
Nicholas'  prayers. 

He  raised  from  amongst 
the  dead  a  corpse  which  lay 
on  the  road. 

A  Jew  asks  for  baptism,  on 
witnessing  the  miraculous  re- 
covery of  his  money. 

A  vase  that  had  sunk  in 
the  deep  sea,  and  a  child  that 
was  lost  to  his  father,  are 
both  recovered. 
Sanctum  O  how  great  a  saint  did  he 
not  appear  by  the  multiplying 
corn  in  a  famine  ! 


DEC.    6.      ST.   NICHOLAS. 


365 


Let,  then,  this  congre- 
gation sing  the  hymns  of 
Nicholas'  praise  ; 

For  all  who  pray  to  him 
with  earnest  hearts,  will  go 
back  cured  of  their  spiritual 
ailments. 

Amen. 


Ergo  laudes  Nicolao 
Concinat  haec  concio. 

Nam  qui  corde  poscit  ilium 
Propulsato  vitio, 
Sospes  regreditur. 

Amen. 


But  no  Church  has  evinced  such  enthusiasm  for  St. 
Nicholas  as  the  Greek  Church  in  its  Mensea.  This 
illustrious  Thaumaturgus  was  evidently  one-  of  the 
firmest  hopes  of  the  Byzantine  Empire,  and  Con- 
stantinople transmitted  the  same  confidence  to 
Russia,  which  even  to  this  day  professes  great  devo- 
tion to  St.  Nicholas.  We  extract,  as  usual,  a  few 
stanzas  from  the  sacred  chants  which  the  Church  of 
Saint  Sophia  anciently  sang  in  the  Greek  language, 
and  which  the  gilded  domes  of  Moscow  re-echo  still, 
every  year,  in  Sclavonic. 


HYMN   OF   ST.   NICHOLAS. 

{Taken  from  the  Merited  of  the  Greeks.) 


Thou  didst  dwell  in  My- 
ra,  and  being  spiritually 
anointed,  thou  didst  show 
thyself  to  be  truly  a  mystic 
myrrh,  0  Saintly  Nicholas, 
great  High  Priest  of  Christ ! 
Thou  anointest  them  that 
ever  come  with  faith  and 
love  to  celebrate  thy  me- 
mory ;  for,  by  thy  prayers  to 
God,  O  Father,  thou  deliver- 
est  them  from  every  neces- 
sity, and  peril,  and  tribu- 
lation. 

How  well  indeed  hast  thou 
fulfilled  thy  name,  The  Peo- 
ples Victory!  for,  Saintly 
Nicholas,  and  High  Priest  of 
Christ,  thou  art  the  powerful 


Myrse  quidem  habitasti 
et  myrum  seu  unguentum 
vere  demonstrasti,  unguento 
unctus  spiritual i,  sancte  Ni- 
colae,  summe  ChristiArchier- 
archa,  et  ungis  fades  illorum 
qui  cum  fide  et  am  ore  tui 
celebrandam  memoriam  sem- 
per perficiunt ;  solvens  eos 
ab  omni  necessitate,  et  peri- 
culo,  et  tribulatione,  Pater, 
in  tuis  ad  Dominum  preci- 
bus. 

Victoria  populi  vere  no- 
mine proprio  demonstratus 
es  in  tentationibus  potens, 
sancte  Nicolae,  summe  Chris  - 
ti    Sacerdos;     nam    passim 


366 


ADVENT. 


invocatus,  velociter  praevenis 
eos  qui  cum  amore  ad  tuum 
praesidium  confugiunt ;  tu 
enim  die  ac  nocte  cum  fide 
visus,  salvas  eos  a  tentationi- 
bus  et  necessitatibus. 


Constantino  Imperatori  et 
Ablavio  in  sonmis  apparuisti, 
illisque  terrorem  injiciens,  ad 
illos  ut  liberarent  festinan- 
ter  :  Quos  in  carcere,  aiebas 
habetis  vinctos,  inuocentes 
sunt  ab  illegitima  jugula- 
tione  :  quod  si  me  audire 
neglexeris,  precem  contra  te, 
Princeps,  ad  Dominum  ob- 
secrans  intentabo. 


Defixis  acriter  oculis,  in- 
spexisti  in  Gnoseos  altitudi- 
nes,  et  caliginosum  inspexisti 
Sapientise  abyssum  ;  tu  qui 
tuis  documentis  ditasti  mun- 
dum,  Pater,  pro  nobis  Chris- 
tum deprecare,  summe  sacer- 
dos  Nicolae. 

Regulam  fidei  et  dulcedinis 
imaginem  monstravit  te  gregi 
tuo  Christus  Deus,  summe 
Sacerdos,  HierarchaNicolae: 
in  Myra  namque  unguentum 
spargis ,  illucescvmt  tua  prse- 
clara  facta,  orphanorum  ac 
viduarum  protector :  ideoque 
deprecari  ne  cesses  salvari 
animas  nostras. 


Gaude,  sacratissima  mens. 


helper  of  them  that  are  in 
temptation.  Wheresoever 
thou  art  invoked,  thou  swiftly 
art  with  those  that  lovingly 
have  recourse  to  thy  protec- 
tion, for  day  and  night  thou 
showest  thyself  to  the  eye  of 
faith,  and  savest  them  from 
temptations  and  necessities. 

Thou  didst  appear  to  the 
Emperor  Constantine  and  to 
Ablavius  in  their  sleep,  ter- 
rifying them,  and  thus  bid- 
ding them  speedily  set  their 
prisoners  free  :  "  These  men, 
"  whom  ye  keep  bound  in 
"  prison,  deserve  not  the 
"  death  ye  have  unjustly 
"  sentenced  them  to  :  and  if 
"  thou,  O  Prince,  settest  my 
"  word  at  nought,  I  will  be- 
"  seechingly  bear  a  petition 
"  against  thee  to  the  Lord." 

Thou  didst  fix  thy  keen 
vision  on  the  heights  of  the 
Mystery,  and  didst  look  down 
into  the  cloud-covered  abyss 
of  Wisdom.  O  Father,  that 
didst  enrich  the  world  by  thy 
doctrines,  pray  for  us  to 
Christ,  0  High  Priest 
Nicholas  ! 

Christ  our  God  showed 
thee  to  thy  flock  as  the  rule 
of  faith  and  the  model  of 
meekness,  thou  High  Priest, 
thou  sainted  Hierarch  Ni- 
cholas !  for  thou  pourest 
forth  in  Myra  a  delicious 
fragrance,  and  thy  splendid 
deeds  give  out  their  bright 
light,  thou  the  protector  of 
the  orphan  and  the  widow  : 
therefore,  cease  not  to  pray 
for  the  salvation  of  our  souls. 

Rejoice,   most    holy    soul, 


DEC.   6.      ST.   NICHOLAS. 


367 


most  pure  abode  of  the 
Trinity,  pillar  of  the  Church, 
support  of  the  faithful,  help 
of  the  wearied,  star,  which 
by  the  vivid  rays  of  thy 
most  efficacious  prayers,  dost 
dispel  the  darkness  of  every 
temptation,  holy  Priest  Ni- 
cholas !  most  tranquil  port, 
into  which  the  tempest-tost 
run  and  find  safety,  beseech 
Jesus  to  show  unto  our  souls 
his  great  mercy. 

Rejoice,  O  thou  thatburn- 
est  with  divine  zeal,  who,  by 
thy  terrible  threat  spoken  to 
men  in  their  dream,  didst 
rescue  them  that  were  un- 
justly condemned  to  death. 
O  fount  of  Myra  overflowing 
with  sweetness,  that  refresh- 
est  souls,  that  cleanest  what 
passion  defiles  !  Sword  that 
cuttest  down  the  tares  of 
error !  0  come  and  winnow 
away  the  chaffy  doctrines  of 
Arius  ;  and  beseech  Jesus  to 
grant  unto  our  souls  his  great 
mercy. 

0  thou  the  most  high  King 
of  kings,  Almighty  Lord,  O 
Divine  Word,  we  beseech 
thee  hear  the  prayer  of  this 
thy  holy  Pastor,  and  give  to 
all  Christians  to  pass  their 
days  in  peace  :  grant  to  our 
good  King  victory  and  energy 
against  the  barbarians  :  that 
thus  we  may  all  and  in  all 
times  hymn  thy  power,  and 
extol  thee  for  ever  and  ever. 


Trinitatis  mansio  purissima, 
Ecclesiae  columna,  fidelium 
stabilimentum,  fatigatorum 
auxilium,  stella  quae  bene 
acceptarum  precum  fulgori- 
bus,  tentationum  tenebras 
undique  depellis,  sancte 
sacerdos  Nicolae  ;  portus 
placidissimus,  in  quo  fugien- 
tes  tempestatibus  cireum- 
venti  salvantur,  Christum 
deprecare  dari  animabus 
nostris  magnam  misericor- 
diam. 

Gaude,  O  divino  zelo  ac- 
cense,  qui  tua  terribili  ani- 
madversione  et  in  somnis 
allocutione  liberasti  injuste 
csedendos.  Pons  fiuens  in 
Myra  unguenta  ditissima, 
animas  irrigans,  foetida  cu- 
piditatum  expurgans,  gladio 
zizania  erroris  amputans ; 
expurgans  ventilabro,  dissipa 
Arii  acerosa  documenta ;  et 
Christum  deprecare  dari  ani- 
mabus nostris  magnam  mise- 
ricordiam. 


Altissime  Rex  regum, 
magnipotens,  precibus  sancti 
Pastoris,  vitam,  O  Verbum, 
pacifica,  quassumus,  cunc- 
torum  christianorum ;  do- 
nans  contra  barbaros  pio  Regi 
victoriam  et  fortitudinem, 
ut  omnes  semper  hymnifice- 
mus  potentiam  luam,  et  ex- 
tollamus  usque  ad  omnia 
saecula. 


Holy  Pontiff  Nicholas,  how  great  is  thy  glory  in 
God's  Church  1  Thou  didst  confess  the  name  of 
Jesus   before  the  proconsuls  of  the  world's  empire, 


368  ADVENT. 

and  suffer  persecution  for  his  name's  sake;  after- 
wards, thou  wast  witness  to  the  wonderful  workings 
of  God,  when  he  restored  peace  to  his  Church  ;  and 
a  short  time  after  this  again,  thou  didst  open  thy 
lips,  in  the  assembly  of  the  three  hundred  and 
eighteen  Fathers,  to  confess  with  supreme  authority 
the  Divinity  of  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  for  whose 
sake  so  many  millions  of  Martyrs  had  already  shed 
their  blood.  Receive  the  devout  felicitations  of  the 
Christian  people  throughout  the  universe,  who  thrill 
with  joy  when  they  think  of  thy  glorious  merits. 
Help  us  by  thy  prayers  during  these  days  when  we 
are  preparing  for  the  coming  of  Him,  whom  thou 
didst  proclaim  to  be  Consubstantial  to  the  Father. 
Vouchsafe  to  assist  our  faith  and  to  obtain  fresh 
fervour  to  our  love.  Thou  now  beholdest  face  to 
face  that  Word  by  whom  all  things  were  made  and 
redeemed  ;  beseech  him  to  permit  our  unworthiness 
to  approach  him.  Be  thou  our  intercessor  with  him. 
Thou  hast  taught  us  to  know  him  as  the  sovereign 
and  eternal  God  ;  teach  us  also  to  love  him  as  the 
supreme  benefactor  of  the  children  of  Adam.  It  was 
from  him,  0  charitable  Pontiff,  that  thou  didst  learn 
that  tender  compassion  for  the  sufferings  of  thy 
fellow -men,  which  made  all  thy  miracles  to  be  so 
many  acts  of  kindness  :  cease  not,  now  that  thou  art 
in  the  company  of  the  Angels,  to  have  pity  on  and  to 
succour  our  miseries. 

Stir  up  and  increase  the  faith  of  mankind  in  the 
Saviour  whom  the  Lord  has  sent  them.  May  this 
be  one  of  the  fruits  of  thy  prayer,  that  the  Divine 
Word  may  be  no  longer  unknown  and  forgotten  in 
this  world,  which  he  has  redeemed  with  his  Blood. 
Ask  for  the  pastors  of  the  Church  that  spirit  of 
charity,  which  shone  so  brilliantly  in  thee  ;  that 
spirit  which  makes  them  like  their  divine  Master, 
and  wins  them  the  hearts  of  their  people. 

Remember,  too,  0  holy  Pontiff,  that  Church  of  the 


DEC.    6.      ST.   NICHOLAS.  369 

East  which  still  loves  thee  so  fervently.  When  thou 
wast  on  this  earth,  God  gave  thee  power  to  raise  the 
dead  to  life  ;  pray  now,  that  the  true  life,  which  con- 
sists in  Faith  and  Unity,  may  return  once  more  and 
animate  that  body  which  schism  has  robbed  of  its 
soul.  By  thy  supplications,  obtain  of  God  that  the 
sacrifice  of  the  Lamb,  who  is  so  soon  to  visit  us,  may 
be  again  and  soon  celebrated  under  the  cupolas  of 
Saint  Sophia.  May  the  sanctuaries  of  Kiow  and 
Moscow  become  re-sanctified  by  the  return  of  the 
people  to  unity.  May  the  pride  of  the  Crescent  be 
humbled  into  submission  to  the  Cross,  and  the 
majesty  of  the  Czar  be  brought  to  acknowledge  the 
power  of  the  Keys  of  Saint  Peter ;  that  thus  there  may 
be  henceforth  neither  Scythian,  nor  Barbarian,  but 
one  fold  under  one  Shepherd. 


Let  us  resume  our  considerations  upon  the  state  of 
the  world  at  the  time  immediately  preceding  the 
coming  of  the  Messias.  Everything  proves  that  the 
prophecies  which  foretold  the  great  event  have  now 
been  fulfilled.  Not  only  has  the  sceptre  been  taken 
from  Juda;  the  Weeks  of  Daniel  also  are  almost  ex- 
pired. The  other  Scriptural  predictions  relative  to 
the  great  revolutions,  which  were  to  take  place  in 
the  world,  have  been  successively  fulfilled.  The 
Empires  of  the  Assyrians,  the  Medes,  the  Persians, 
and  the  Greeks,  have  fallen  one  after  the  other ;  that 
of  the  Romans  is  now  at  the  zenith  of  its  greatness ; 
in  its  turn,  it  must  yield  to  the  eternal  Empire  of  the 
Messias.  This  succession  of  Empires,  which  was  to 
result  in  a  perfect  kingdom,  was  foretold ;  and  all  is 
now  ready  for  its  final  accomplishment.  God  has 
also   said,   by   one   of  his   Prophets :   Yet  one  little 

while,  and  I  will  move  heaven  and  earth 

and  I  will  move  all  nations,  and  the  Desired  of  all 

2  B 


370  ADVENT. 

nations  shall  come.1  Descend,  therefore,  O  thou 
Eternal  Word!  All  is  consummated.  The  misery 
of  the  world  is  extreme  ;  the  crimes  of  men  cry  to 
heaven  for  vengeance ;  the  whole  human  race  is 
threatened  with  self-destruction,  and  without  know- 
ing what  it  does,  it  calls  for  thee  as  its  only  resource. 
Then  come  !  All  the  predictions  which  were  to  desig- 
nate the  Redeemer,  have  been  spoken  and  promul- 
gated. There  is  no  longer  a  Prophet  in  Israel,  and 
the  oracles  of  the  Gentile  world  have  ceased  to  speak. 
Come,  Lord  Jesus,  and  fulfil  all  things,  for  the  ful- 
ness of  time  has  come. 

PRAYER  FOR  THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 

(The  Mozardbic  Breviary,  1st  Sunday  of  Advent, 
Capitulum.) 

Preces  nostras  ne  despexe-  Despise  not  our  prayers,  O 
ris,  Domine  :  intende  jam  et  Lord  :  look  down  upon  us 
exaudi  clenienter  :  ut  qui  and  mercifully  hear  us  :  that 
voce  inimici  turbati  dejici-  we  who  are  in  trouble  and 
mur,  Unigeniti  tui  Adventu  cast  down  at  the  voice  of  our 
sacratissimo  consolemur  :  et  enemy,  may  be  comforted  by 
fide  pennigerati,  velut  colum-  the  most  sacred  coming  of 
ba,  ad  superna  tendamus.  thine  Only  Begotten  Son. 
Elonga  nos,  Domine,  a  sse-  May  faith  give  us  wings, 
culo  maligno,  et  a  laqueo  that,  like  the  dove,  we  may 
inimici  custodi.  Per  Chris-  take  our  flight  to  the  things 
turn  Dominum  nostrum,  that  are  above.  Separate  us, 
Amen.  O  Lord,   from    the    wicked 

world,  and  keep  us  from  the 
snare  of  the  enemy.  Through 
Christ  our  Lord.    Amen. 

1  Aggeus,  ii.  7  and  8. 


DEC.    7.      ST.   AMBROSE.  371 


December  7. 
SAINT  AMBROSE, 

BISHOP   AND   DOCTOR    OF   THE   CHURCH. 


This  illustrious  Pontiff  was  deservedly  placed  in 
the  Calendar  of  the  Church  side  by  side  with  the 
glorious  Bishop  of  Myra.  Nicholas  confessed,  at 
Nicsea,  the  divinity  of  the  Redeemer ;  Ambrose,  in 
his  city  of  Milan,  was  the  object  of  the  hatred  of  the 
Arians,  and,  by  his  invincible  courage,  triumphed 
over  the  enemies  of  Christ.  Let  Ambrose,  then, 
unite  his  voice,  as  Doctor  of  the  Church,  with  that 
of  St.  Peter  Chrysologus,  and  preach  to  the  world 
the  glories  and  the  humiliations  of  the  Messias. 
But,  as  Doctor  of  the  Church,  he  has  a  special  claim 
to  our  veneration :  it  is,  that  among  the  bright 
luminaries  of  the  Latin  Church,  four  great  Masters 
head  the  list  of  sacred  Interpreters  of  the  Faith  ; 
Gregory,  Augustine,  Jerome  ;  and  then  our  glorious 
Ambrose,  Bishop  of  Milan,  makes  up  the  mystic 
number. 

Ambrose  owes  his  noble  position  in  the  Calendar 
to  the  ancient  custom  of  the  Church,  whereby,  in  the 
early  ages,  no  Saint's  feast  was  allowed  to  be  kept  in 
Lent.  The  day  of  his  departure  from  this  world  and 
of  his  entrance  into  heaven  was  the  fourth  of  April, 
which,  more  frequently  than  not,  comes  during  Lent  : 
so  that  it  was  requisite  that  the  memory  of  his 
sacred  death  should  be  solemnised  on  some  other 


372  ADVENT. 

day,  and  the  seventh  of  December  naturally  pre- 
sented itself  for  such  a  feast,  inasmuch  as  it  was 
the  anniversary -day  of  Ambrose's  being  consecrated 
Bishop. 

But,  independently  of  these  considerations,  the 
road  which  leads  us  to  Bethlehem  could  be  perfumed 
by  nothing  so  fragrant  as  by  this  feast  of  St.  Am- 
brose. Does  not  the  thought  of  this  saintly  and 
amiable  Bishop  impress  us  with  the  image  of  dignity 
and  sweetness  combined  ?  of  the  strength  of  the  lion 
united  with  the  gentleness  of  the  dove?  Time  re- 
moves the  deepest  human  impressions;  but  the 
memory  of  Ambrose  is  as  vivid  and  dear  in  men's 
minds  as  though  he  was  still  among  us.  Who  can 
ever  forget  the  young,  yet  staid  and  learned  governor 
of  Liguria  and  Emilia,  who  comes  to  Milan  as  a 
simple  catechumen,  and  finds  himself  forced,  by  the 
acclamations  of  the  people,  to  ascend  the  episcopal 
throne  of  this  great  city  ?  And  how  indelibly  im- 
pressed upon  us  are  certain  touching  incidents  of  his 
early  life !  For  instance,  that  beautiful  presage  of 
his  irresistible  eloquence, — the  swarm  of  bees  coming 
round  him  as  he  was  sleeping  one  day  in  his  father's 
garden,  and  entering  into  his  mouth,  as  though  they 
would  tell  us  how  sweet  that  babe's  words  would  be? 
and  the  prophetic  gravity  with  which  Ambrose,  when 
quite  a  boy,  would  hold  out  his  hand  to  his  mother 
and  sister,  bidding  them  kiss  it,  for  that  one  day  it 
would  be  the  hand  of  a  Bishop  ! 

But  what  hard  work  awaited  the  neophyte  of 
Milan,  who  was  no  sooner  regenerated  in  the  waters 
of  baptism,  than  he  was  consecrated  Priest  and 
Bishop  !  He  had  to  apply  himself,  there  and  then, 
to  a  close  study  of  the  sacred  Scriptures,  that  so  he 
might  prepare  himself  to  become  the  defender  of  the 
Church,  w7hich  was  attacked,  in  the  fundamental 
dogma  of  the  Incarnation,  by  the  false  science  of  the 
Arians.     In  a  short  time  he  attained  such  proficiency 


DEC.  7.       ST.  AMBROSE.  o73 

in  the  sacred  sciences,  as  to  become,  like  the  Prophet, 
a  wall  of  brass,  which  checked  the  further  progress 
of  Arianism  :  not  only  so,  but  the  works  written  by 
Ambrose  possessed  that  plenitude  and  surety  of 
doctrine,  as  to  be  numbered  by  the  Church  among 
the  most  faithful  and  authoritative  interpretations  of 
her  teaching. 

But  Ambrose  had  other  and  fiercer  contests  than 
those  of  religious  controversy  to  encounter  r  his  very 
life  was  more  than  once  threatened  by  the  heretics 
whom  he  had  silenced.  What  a  sublime  spectacle 
that  of  a  Bishop  blockaded  in  his  church  by  the 
troops  of  the  Empress  Justina,  and  defended  within 
by  his  people,  day  and  night !  Pastor  and  flock,  both 
are  admirable.  How  had  Ambrose  merited  such 
fidelity  and  confidence  on  the  part  of  this  people  ? 
By  a  whole  life  spent  for  the  welfare  of  his  city  and 
his  country.  He  had  never  ceased  to  preach  Jesus 
to  all  men ;  and  now,  the  people  see  their  Bishop 
become,  by  his  zeal,  his  devotedness,  and  his  self- 
sacrificing  conduct,  a  living  image  of  Jesus. 

In  the  midst  of  these  dangers  which  threatened 
his  person,  his  great  soul  was  calm  and  seemingly 
unconscious  of  the  fury  of  his  enemies.  It  was  on 
that  very  occasion  that  he  instituted,  at  Milan,  the 
choral  singing  of  the  Psalms.  Up  to  that  time,  the 
holy  Canticles  had  been  given  from  the  Ambo  by 
the  single  voice  of  a  Lector ;  but  Ambrose,  shut  up 
in  his  Basilica  with  his  people,  takes  the  opportunity, 
and  forms  two  choirs,  bidding  them  respond  to  each 
other  the  verses  of  the  Psalms.  The  people  forgot 
their  trouble  in  the  delight  of  this  heavenly  music ; 
nay,  the  very  howling  of  the  tempest,  and  the  fierce- 
ness of  the  siege  they  were  sustaining,  added  en- 
thusiasm to  this  first  exercise  of  their  new  privilege. 
Such  was  the  chivalrous  origin  of  Alternate  Psalm- 
ody in  the  Western  Church.  Borne  adopted  the 
practice,  which  Ambrose  was  the  first  to  introduce, 
and  which  will  continue  to  be  observed  to  the  end  of 


374  ADVENT. 

time.  During  these  hours  of  struggle  with  his  ene- 
mies, the  glorious  Bishop  has  another  gift  wherewith 
to  enrich  the  faithful  people  who  are  defending  him 
at  the  risk  of  their  own  lives.  Ambrose  is  a  poet, 
and  he  has  frequently  sung,  in  verses  full  of  sweet- 
ness and  sublimity,  the  greatness  of  the  God  of  the 
Christians,  and  the  mysteries  of  man's  salvation. 
He  now  gives  to  his  devoted  people  these  hymns, 
which  he  had  only  composed  for  his  own  private  de- 
votion. The  Basilicas  of  Milan  soon  echoed  these 
accents  of  the  sublime  soul  which  first  uttered  them. 
Later  on,  the  whole  Latin  Church  adopted  them ; 
and  in  honour  of  the  holy  Bishop  who  had  thus 
opened  one  of  the  richest  sources  of  the  sacred 
Liturgy,  a  Hymn  was,  for  a  long  time,  called  after 
his  name,  an  Ambrosian.  The  Divine  Office  thus 
received  a  new  mode  of  celebrating  the  divine  praise, 
and  the  Church,  the  Spouse  of  Christ,  possessed  one 
means  more  of  giving  expression  to  the  sentiments 
which  animate  her. 

Thus  our  Hymns,  and  the  alternate  singing  of  the 
Psalms,  are  trophies  of  Ambrose's  victory.  He  had 
been  raised  up  by  God  not  for  his  own  age  only,  but 
also  for  those  which  were  to  follow.  Hence,  the  Holy 
Ghost  infused  into  him  the  knowledge  of  Christian 
jurisprudence,  that  he  might  be  the  defender  of  the 
rights  of  the  Church  at  a  period  when  paganism  still 
lived,  though  defeated  ;  and  imperialism,  or  cesarism, 
had  still  the  instinct,  though  not  the  uncontrolled 
power,  to  exercise  its  tyranny.  Ambrose's  law  was 
the  Gospel,  and  he  would  acknowledge  no  law  which 
was  in  opposition  to  that.  He  could  not  understand 
such  imperial  policy  as  that  of  ordering  a  Basilica  to 
be  given  up  to  the  Arians,  for  quietness'  sake  !  He 
would  defend  the  inheritance  of  the  Church  ;  and  in 
that  defence,  would  shed  the  last  drop  of  his  blood. 
Certain  courtiers  dared  to  accuse  him  of  tyranny  : 
"  No,"  answered  the  Saint,  "  Bishops  are  not  tyrants, 


DEC.   7.      ST.   AMBROSE.  375 

"  but  have  often  to  suffer  from  tyranny."  The  eunuch 
Calligonus,  high  chamberlain  of  the  Emperor  Valen- 
tinian the  Second  had  said  to  Ambrose:  "What! 
"  darest  thou,  in  my  presence,  to  care  so  little  for 
"  Valentinian  !  I  will  cut  off  thy  head."  "  I  would 
"  it  might  be  so,"  answered  Ambrose,  "  I  should  then 
"  die  as  a  Bishop,  and  thou  wouldst  have  done  what 
"  eunuchs  are  wont  to  do." 

This  noble  courage  in  the  defence  of  the  rights  of 
the  Church,  showed  itself  even  more  clearly  on  another 
occasion.  The  Roman  Senate,  or  rather  that  portion 
of  the  Senate,  which,  though  a  minority,  was  still 
Pagan,  was  instigated  by  Symmachus,  the  Prefect  of 
Rome,  to  ask  the  Emperor  for  the  re-erection  of  the 
altar  of  Victory  in  the  Capitol,  under  the  pretext  of 
averting  the  misfortunes  which  threatened  the  empire. 
Ambrose,  who  had  said  to  these  politicians,  "  I  hate 
"  the  Religion  of  the  Neros,"  vehemently  opposed  this 
last  effort  of  idolatry.  He  presented  most  eloquent 
petitions  to  Valentinian,  in  which  he  protested  against 
an  attempt,  whose  object  was  to  bring  a  Christian 
Prince  to  recognise  that  false  doctrines  have  rights, 
and  which  would,  if  permitted  to  be  tried,  rob  Him, 
who  is  the  one  only  Master  of  nations,  of  the  victo- 
ries which  he  had  won.  Valentinian  yielded  to  these 
earnest  remonstrances,  which  taught  him  "that  a 
"  Christian  Emperor  can  only  honour  one  Altar, — the 
"  Altar  of  Christ ; "  and  when  the  Senators  had  to 
receive  their  answer,  the  prince  told  them,  that  Rome 
was  his  mother,  and  he  loved  her ;  but  that  God  was 
his  Saviour,  and  he  would  obey  Him. 

If  the  Empire  of  Rome  had  not"  been  irrevocably 
condemned  by  God  to  destruction,  the  influence  which 
St.  Ambrose  had  over  such  well-intentioned  princes 
as  Valentinian  would  probably  have  saved  it.  The 
Saint's  maxim  to  the  Rulers  of  the  world  was  this, 
though  it  was  not  to  be  realised  in  any  of  them  until 
new  kingdoms  should  spring  up  out  of  the  ruins  of 


376  ADVENT. 

the  Roman  Empire,  and  those  new  kingdoms  and 
peoples  organised  by  the  Christian  Church  :  but  St. 
Ambrose  could  have  no  other,  and  he  therefore  taught 
the  Emperors  of  those  times,  that  "an  Emperor's 
"  grandest  title  is  to  be  a  Son  of  the  Church.  An 
*  Emperor  is  in  the  Church,  he  is  not  over  her." 

It  is  beautiful  to  see  the  affectionate  solicitude  of 
St.  Ambrose  for  the  young  Emperor  Gratian,  at  whose 
death  he  shed  floods  of  tears.  How  tenderly,  too, 
did  he  not  love  Theodosius,  that  model  Christian 
prince,  for  whose  sake  God  retarded  the  fall  of  the 
Empire,  by  the  uninterrupted  victory  over  all  its 
enemies !  On  one  occasion,  indeed,  this  Son  of  the 
Church  showed  in  himself  the  Pagan  Caesar ;  but  his 
holy  father  Ambrose,  by  a  severity,  which  was  inflex- 
ible because  his  affection  for  the  culprit  was  great, 
brought  him  back  to  his  duty  and  his  God.  "I 
"  loved,"  says  the  holy  Bishop,  in  the  funeral  oration 
which  he  preached  over  Theodosius,  "  I  loved  this 
"  Prince,  who  preferred  correction  to  flattery.  He 
"  stripped  himself  of  his  royal  robes,  and  publicly 
"  wept  in  the  Church  for  the  sin  he  had  committed, 
"  and  into  which  he  had  been  led  by  evil  counsel. 
"  In  sighs  and  tears  he  sought  to  be  forgiven.  He, 
"  an  Emperor,  did  what  common  men  would  be 
"  ashamed  to  do,  he  did  public  penance;  and  for  the 
"  rest  of  his  life,  he  passed  not  a  day  without  bewail- 
"  ing  his  sin." 

But  we  should  have  a  very  false  idea  of  St.  Am- 
brose, if  we  thought  that  he  only  turned  his  attention 
to  affairs  of  importance  like  these,  which  brought  him 
before  the  notice  of  the  world.  No  pastor  could  be 
more  solicitous  than  he  about  the  slightest  details 
which  affected  the  interests  of  his  flock.  We  have 
his  life  written  by  his  deacon,  Paulinus,  who  knew 
secrets  which  intimacy  alone  can  know,  and  these 
fortunately  he  has  revealed  to  us.  Among  other 
things,  he  tells  us  that  when  Ambrose  heard  confes- 


DEC.   7.      ST.  -AMBROSE.  377 

sions,  he  shed  so  many  tears  that  the  sinner  was 
forced  to  weep :  "  You  would  have  thought,"  says 
Paulinus,  "  that  they  were  his  own  sins  that  he  was 
"  listening  to."  We  all  know  the  tender  paternal 
interest  he  felt  for  Augustine,  when  he  was  a  slave 
to  error  and  his  passions ;  and  if  we  would  have  a 
faithful  portrait  of  Ambrose,  we  must  read  in  the 
Confessions  of  the  Bishop  of  Hippo  the  fine  passage 
where  he  expresses  his  admiration  and  gratitude  for 
his  spiritual  father.  Ambrose  had  told  Monica,  that 
her  son  Augustine,  who  gave  her  so  much  anxiety, 
would  be  converted.  That  happy  day  at  last  came  ; 
it  was  Ambrose's  hand  which  immersed  into  the 
cleansing  waters  of  Baptism  him  who  was  to  be  the 
prince  of  the  Doctors  of  the  Church. 

A  heart  thus  loyal  in  its  friendship,  could  not  but 
be  affectionate  to  those  who  were -related  by  ties  of 
blood.  He  tenderly  loved  his  brother  Satyrus,  as  we 
may  see  from  the  two  funeral  orations  which  he  has 
left  us  upon  this  brother,  wherein  he  speaks  his 
praises  with  all  the  warmth  of  enthusiastic  admira- 
tion. He  had  a  sister,  too,  named  Marcellina,  who 
was  equally  dear  to  her  saintly  brother.  From  her 
earliest  years,  she  had  spurned  the  world,  and  its 
pomps,  and  the  position  which  she  might  expect  to 
enjoy  in  it,  as  being  a  Patrician's  daughter.  She  had 
received  the  veil  of  virginity  from  the  hands  of  Pope 
Liberius,  but  lived  in  her  father's  house  at  Rome. 
Her  brother  Ambrose  was  separated  from  her,  but  he 
seemed  to  love  her  the  more  for  that ;  and  he  com- 
municated with  her  in  her  holy  retirement  by  fre- 
quent letters,  several  of  which  are  still  extant.  She 
deserved  all  the  esteem  which  Ambrose  had  for  her ; 
she  had  a  great  love  for  the  Church  of  God,  and  she 
was  heart  and  soul  in  all  the  great  undertakings  of 
her  brother  the  Bishop.  The  very  heading  of  these 
letters  shows  the  affection  of  the  Saint:  "  The  Brother 
"  to  the  Sister ;"  or,  "  To  my  sister  Marcellina,  dearer 


378  ADVENT. 

"to  me  than  mine  own  eyes  and  life."  Then  follows 
the  letter,  in  a  style  of  nerve  and  animation,  well 
suited  to  the  soul- stirring  communications  he  had  to 
make  to  her  about  his  struggles.  One  of  them  was 
written  in  the  midst  of  the  storm,  when  the  courage- 
ous Pontiff  was  besieged  in  his  Basilica  by  Justina's 
soldiers.  His  discourses  to  the  people  of  Milan,  his 
consolations  and  his  trials,  the  heroic  sentiments  of 
his  great  soul,  all  is  told  in  these  despatches  to  his 
sister,  and  where  every  line  shows  how  strong  and 
holy  was  the  attachment  between  Ambrose  and  Mar- 
cellina.  The  great  Basilica  of  Milan  still  contains 
the  tomb  of  the  brother  and  sister :  and  over  them 
both  is  daily  offered  the  divine  sacrifice. 

Such  was  Ambrose,  of  whom  Theodosius  was  one 
day  heard  to  say :  "  There  is  but  one  Bishop  in  the 
"world."  Let  us  glorify  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  has 
vouchsafed  to  produce  this  sublime  model  in  the 
Church,  and  let  us  beg  of  the  holy  Pontiff  to  obtain 
for  us,  by  his  prayers,  a  share  in  that  lively  faith  and 
ardent  love  which  he  himself  had,  and  which  he 
evinces  in  those  delicious  and  eloquent  writings, which 
he  has  left  us  on  the  mystery  of  the  Incarnation. 
During  these  days,  which  are  preparing  us  for  the 
Birth  of  our  Incarnate  Lord,  Ambrose  is  one  of  our 
most  powerful  patrons. 

His  love  towards  the  Blessed  Mother  of  God 
teaches  us  what  admiration  and  devotion  we  ought  to 
have  for  Mary.  St.  Ephrem  and  St.  Ambrose  are 
the  two  Fathers  of  the  fourth  century,  who  are  the 
most  explicit  upon  the  glories  of  the  office  and  the 
person  of  the  Mother  of  Jesus.  To  confine  ourselves 
to  St.  Ambrose,  he  has  completely  mastered  this 
mystery,  which  he  understood,  and  appreciated,  and 
defined  in  his  writings.  Mary's  exemption  from 
every  stain  of  sin ;  Mary's  uniting  herself,  at  the 
foot  of  the  Cross,  with  her  Divine  Son  for  the  salva- 
tion of  the  world  ;  Jesus'  appearing,  after  his  resur- 


DEC.   7.      ST.   AMBROSE.  379 

rection,  to  Mary  first  of  all ; — on  these  and  so  many 
other  points  St.  Ambrose  has  spoken  so  clearly  as  to 
deserve  to  be  considered  as  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent witnesses  of  the  primitive  traditions  respecting 
the  privileges  and  dignity  of  the  holy  Mother  of 
God. 

This  his  devotion  to  Mary  explains  St.  Ambrose's 
enthusiastic  admiration  for  the  holy  state  of  Chris- 
tian Virginity,  of  which  he  might  justly  be  called  the 
Doctor.  He  surpasses  all  the  Fathers  in  the  beauti- 
ful and  eloquent  manner  in  which  he  speaks  of  the 
dignity  and  happiness  of  Virginity.  Four  of  his 
writings  are  devoted  to  the  praises  of  this  sublime 
state.  The  Pagans  would  fain  have  an  imitation  of 
it,  by  instituting  seven  Vestal  Virgins,  whom  they 
loaded  with  honours  and  riches,  and  to  whom  they  in 
due  time  restored  liberty.  St.  Ambrose  shows  how 
contemptible  these  were,  compared  with  the  innume- 
rable Virgins  of  the  Christian  Church,  who  filled  the 
whole  world  with  the  fragrance  of  their  humility, 
constancy,  and  disinterestedness.  But  on  this  mag- 
nificent subject,  his  words  were  even  more  telling 
than  his  writings ;  and  we  learn  from  his  contempo- 
raries, that  when  he  went  to  preach  in  any  town, 
mothers  would  not  allow  their  daughters  to  be 
present  at  his  sermon,  lest  this  irresistible  panegyrist 
of  the  eternal  nuptials  with  the  Lamb,  should  convince 
them  that  that  was  the  better  part,  and  persuade 
them  to  make  it  the  object  of  their  desires. 

But  our  partiality  and  devotion  to  the  great  Saint 
of  Milan  has  made  us  exceed  our  usual  limits :  it  is 
time  to  read  the  account  of  his  virtues  given  lis  by 
the  Church. 

Ambrose,  Bishop  of  Milan,  Ambrosius  Episcopus  Me- 

was   the   son   of    a   Roman  diolanensis,   Ambrosii   civis 

citizen,  whose  name  was  also  Romani  films,  patre   Galliae 

Ambrose,  and  who  held  the  Praefecto  natus  est.    In  huj us 

office  of  Prefect  of  Cisalpine  infantis   ore   examen   apum 


380 


ADVENT. 


consedisse  dicitur  :    quae  res 
divinam     viri     eloquentiam 

Ersemonstrabat.  Romse  li- 
eralibus  disciplinis  eruditus 
est.  Post  a  Probo  Praefecto 
Liguriae  et  vEmilise  praeposi- 
tus  :  uride  postea  ejusdem 
Probi  jussu  cum  potestate 
Mediolanum  venit :  iibi, 
mortuo  Auxentio,  Ariano 
Episcopo,  populus  de  succes- 
sore  deligendo  dissidebat. 
Quare  Ambrosius,  pro  officii 
sui  munere  Ecclesiam  in- 
gressus,  ut  commotarn  sedi- 
tionem  sedaret,  quum  multa 
de  quiete  et  tranquillitate 
reipublicae  praeclare  dixisset, 
derepente  puero  Ambrosium 
Episcopum  exclamante,  uni- 
versi  populi  vox  enipit, 
Ambrosium  Episcopum  de- 
poscentis. 


Recusante  illo,  et  eorum 
precibus  resistente,  ardens 
populi  stndium  ad  Valenti- 
nianum  Imperatorem  dela- 
tum  est,  cui  gratissimum  fuit 
a  se  delectos  Judices  ad 
sacerdotium  postulari.  Fuit 
id  etiam  Probo  Prsefecto  ju- 
cundum,  qui  Ambrosm  pro- 
ficiscenti  quasi  divinans 
dixerat :  Vade,  age,  non  ut 
Judex,  sed  ut  Episcopus. 
Itaque  quum  ad  populi  desi- 


Gaul.  It  is  related  that 
when  the  saint  was  an 
infant,  a  swarm  of  bees 
rested  on  his  lips  ;  it  was  a 
presage  of  his  future  extra- 
ordinary eloquence.  He  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education  at 
Rome,  and  not  long  after 
was  appointed,  by  the  Pre- 
fect Probus,  to  be  Governor 
of  Liguria  and  Emilia, 
whence,  later  on,  he  was 
sent,  by  order  of  the  same 
Probus,  to  Milan,  with 
power  of  Judge  ;  for  the 
people  of  that  city  were 
quarrelling  among  them- 
selves about  the  successor  of 
the  Arian  Bishop,  Auxen- 
tius,  who  had  died.  Where- 
fore, Ambrose,  having  en- 
tered the  Church  that  he 
might  fulfil  the  duty  that 
had  been  imposed  on  him, 
and  quell  the  disturbance 
that  had  arisen,  delivered  an 
eloquent  discourse  on  the 
advantages  of  peace  and 
tranquillity  in  a  State. 
Scarcely  had  he  finished 
speaking,  than  a  boy  ex- 
claimed :  Ambrose,  Bishop  I 
The  whole  multitude  shout- 
ed :  Ambrose,  Bishop  ! 

On  his  refusing  to  accede 
to  their  entreaties,  the 
earnest  request  of  the  people 
was  presented  to  the  Empe- 
ror Valentinian,  who  was 
gratified  that  they  whom  he 
selected  as  Judges  were  thus 
sought  after  to  be  made 
Priests.  It  was  also  pleas- 
ing to  the  Prefect  Probus, 
who,  as  though  he  foresaw 
the  event,  said  to  Ambrose 
on  his  setting  out :  Go,  act 


DEC.   7.      ST.   AMBROSE, 


331 


not  as  Judge,  but  as  Bishop. 
The  desire  of  the  people 
being  thus  seconded  by  the 
will  of  the  Emperor,  Am- 
brose was  baptised  (for  he 
was  only  a  catechumen),  and 
was  admitted  to  sacred 
Orders,  ascending  by  all  the 
degrees  of  Orders  as  pre- 
scribed by  the  Church  ;  and 
on  the  eighth  day,  which 
was  the  s.venth  of  the  Ides 
of  December  (December  7th), 
he  received  the  burden  of 
the  Episcopacy.  Being  made 
Bishop,  he  most  strenuously 
defended  the  Catholic  faith, 
and  ecclesiastical  discipline. 
He  converted  to  the  true 
faith  many  Arians,  and 
other  heretics,  among 
whom  was  that  brightest 
luminary  of  the  Church,  St. 
Augustine,  the  spiritual 
child  of  Ambrose  in  Christ 
Jesus. 

When  the  Emperor  Gra- 
tian  was  killed  by  Maximus, 
he  was  twice  deputed  to  go 
to  this  murderer,  and  insist 
on  his  doing  penance  for  his 
crime  ;  which  he  refusing  to 
do,  Ambrose  refused  to  hold 
communion  with  him.  The 
Emperor  Theodosius  having 
made  himself  guilty  of  the 
massacre  at  Thessalonica, 
was  forbidden  by  the  Saint 
to  enter  the  church.  On  the 
Emperor's  excusing  himself 
by  saying  that  King  David 
had  also  committed  murder 
and  adultery,  Ambrose  re- 
plied :  Thou  hast  imitated 
his  sin,  now  imitate  his  re- 
pentance. Upon  which,  Theo- 


derium  Imperatoris  voluntas 
accederet,  Ambrosius  bapti- 
zatus  (erat  enim  catechume- 
nus)  sacrisque  initiatus,  ac 
servatis  omnibus  ex  insti- 
tuto  Ecclesias  Ordinum  gra- 
dibus,  octavo  die,  qui  fuit 
septimo  Idus  Decembris, 
Episcopale  onus  suscepit. 
Factus  Episcopus,  Cathoii- 
cam  fidem  et  disciplinam 
ecclesiasticam  acerrime  de- 
fendit :  multosque  Arianos, 
et  alios  haereticos,  ad  hdei 
veritatem  convertit,  in  qui- 
bus  clarissimum  Ecclesia? 
lumen  sanctum  Augustinum 
Jesu  Christo  peperit. 


Gratiano  Imperatore  oc- 
ciso,  ad  Maximum  ejus  inter- 
fectorem  legatus  iterum  pro- 
fectus  est :  eoque  pceniten- 
tiam  agere  recusante,  se  ab 
ejus  communione  semovit. 
Theodosium  Imperatorem 
propter  caedem  Thessalonicae 
lactam  ingressu  ecclesiae  pro- 
hibuit.  Cui,  quum  ille 
David  quoque  regem  adulte- 
rum  et  homicidam  dixisset, 
respondit  Ambrosius  :  Qui 
secutus  es  errantem,  sequere 
pcenitentem.  Quare  Theo- 
dosius sibi  ab  eo  impositam 
publicam  pcenitentiam  hu- 
militer  egit.  Ergo  sanctus 
Episcopus  pro  Ecclesia  Dei 
maximis  laboribus   curisque 


382 


ADVENT. 


perfunctus,  multis  libris 
etiam  egregie  conscript]  s, 
antequam  in  morbum  inci- 
deret,  mortis  suae  diem 
praedixit.  Ad  quern  segro- 
tum  Honoratus  Vercellensis 
Episcopus,  Dei  voce  ter 
admonitus  accurrit,  eique 
sanctum  Dei  Corpus  pras- 
buit :  quo  ille  sumpto,  con- 
formatis  in  crucis  simi- 
litudinem  manibus  orans, 
animam  Deo  reddidit,  pridie 
Nonas  Aprilis,  anno  post 
Christum  natum  trecente- 
simo  nonagesimo  septimo. 


dosius  humbly  performed 
the  public  penance  which 
the  Bishop  imposed  upon 
him.  The  holy  Bishop 
having  thus  gone  through 
the  greatest  labours  and  soli- 
citudes for  God's  Church, 
and  having  written  several 
admirable  books,  foretold 
the  day  of  his  death,  before 
even  he  was  taken  with  his 
last  sickness.  Honoratus, 
the  Bishop  of  Vercelli,  was 
thrice  admonished  by  the 
voice  of  God  to  go  to  the 
dying  Saint :  he  went,  and 
administered  to  him  the 
Sacred  Body  of  our  Lord. 
Ambrose  having  received  it, 
and  placing  his  hands  in  the 
form  of  the  cross,  prayed,  and 
yielded  his  soul  up  to  God, 
on  the  vigil  of  the  Nones  of 
April  (April  4th),  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  397. 


Let  us  salute  this  great  Doctor  in  the  words  which 
the  holy  Church  addresses  to  him  in  the  Office  of 
Vespers. 


O  Doctor  optime,  Ecclesiae 
sanctse  lumen,  beateAmbrosi, 
divinse  legis  amator,  depre- 
care  pro  nobis  Filium  Dei. 


O  most  admirable  Doctor, 
Light  of  the  holy  Church, 
Blessed  Ambrose,  lover  of 
the  divine  law,  pray  for  us  to 
the  Son  of  God. 


The  Ambrosian  Liturgy  is  not  so  rich  in  its  praises 
of  St.  Ambrose  as  we  might  naturally  expect  it  to  be. 
Even  the  Preface  of  the  Mass  is  so  short  and  so 
wanting  in  any  especial  allusion  to  the  Saint,  that 
we  think  it  useless  to  insert  it.  We  will  content 
ourselves  with  giving  two  of  the  Responsaries  of  the 
Night    Office,  the    Hymn,   and    the    Collect,  which 


DEC.   7.      ST.   AMBROSE. 


383 


strikes  us  as  being  the  finest.  With  regard  to  the 
Hymn,  it  is  well  to  mention  that  almost  the  whole 
of  it  is  a  modern  composition,  having  been,  like  a 
great  many  other  Hymns  of  the  Ambrosian  Breviary, 
subjected  to  very  considerable  corrections.  The 
ancient  Hymn  began  with  the  verse  Miraculum 
laudabile ;  but  is  extremely  poor  both  in  sentiment 
and  expression. 

EESPONSORY. 


1$.  Upon  whom  shall  I 
rest,  saith  the  Lord,  but  upon 
him  that  is  humble  and  meek, 
*  Who  trembleth  at  my 
words'?  %  I  have  found 
David  my  servant,  and  with 
my  holy  oil  have  I  anointed 
him.  *  Who  trembleth  at 
my  words  % 

1$.  This  illustrious  man 
was  sent  that  he  might  de- 
stroy Arius :  he  was  the  glory 
of  the  Church,  the  ornament 
of  Pontiffs  ;  *  Whilst  wear- 
ing an  earthly  mitre,  he 
gained  that  of  heaven.  "ft.  It 
was  said  to  him  as  he  set  out : 
Go,  act  not  as  Judge,  but  as 
Bishop.  *  Whilst  wearing 
an  earthly  mitre,  he  gained 
that  of  heaven. 


_  T$.  Super  quern  requiescam, 
dicit_  Dominus,  nisi  super 
humilem      et      mansuetum, 

*  Trementem  verba  mea? 
ft.  Inveni  David  servum  me- 
um,  oleo  sancto  meo  unxi 
eum.  *  Trementem  verba 
mea] 

J§.  Directus  est  vir  incly- 
tus,  ut  Arium  destrueret  : 
splendor  Ecclesiae,  claritas 
Vatum  ;  *  Infulas  dum  gerit 
sseculi,  acquisivit  Paradisi. 
ft.  Dictum  enim  fuerat  pro- 
ticiscenti  :  Vade,  age  non  ut 
Judex,    sed    ut    Episcopus. 

*  Infulas  dum  gerit  sseculi, 
acquisivit  Paradisi. 


HYMN. 


Let  us  all  sing  the  praise 
of  our  august  Father,  who 
drove  from  the  land  the  tur- 
bid storms  of  a  tempestuous 
age. 

A  babe,  he  sleeps  ;  when 
lo  !  a  swarm  of  bees  light  on 
his  flowery  lips  ;  these  honey- 
makers  thus  telling  us  that 
here  was  one  would  captivate 
men  by  the  sweetness  of  his 
eloquence. 


Nostrum  parentem  maxi- 
mum 
Canamus  omnes,  turbidas 
Qui  fluctuantis  saeculi 
Terris  procellas  expulit. 

Puer  quiescit :  floreis 
Apes  labellis  insident ; 
Mellis  Magistrse,  melleum 
Signant  ducem  f acundise. 


384 


ADVENT. 


Parvam  futuri  praescius, 
Dextram  coli  vult  osculis  ; 
Vixdum  solutus  fasciis, 
Quserit  tiarae  tsenias. 


Infans  locutns,  Insubrum 
Ambrosio  fert  infulam  ; 
Hanc  fugit :  at  semper  fugam 
Honos  fefellit  obvius. 


Yelat  sacrata  denique 
Doctum  tiara  verticem  : 
Ceu  tectus  ora  casside, 
Bellum  minatur  Ario. 

Non     sceptra      concussus 
timet, 
Non  imperantem  foeminam, 
Temploque,  clausis  postibus, 
Arcet  cruentum  Csesarem. 


Sordes  fluentis  abluit 
Aurelii  coelestibns  : 
Fide  cosequans  Martyres, 
Invenit  artus  Martyrum. 


Jam  mine  furentem   Tar- 
tari, 
Lupum  flagello  submove  ; 
Quern  Pastor  olim  rexeris, 
Gregem  tuere  jugiter. 

Deo  Patri  sit  gloria, 
Ejusqne  soli  Filio, 
Cum  Spiritu  Paraclito, 
Nunc  et  per  omne  sseculum. 

Amen. 


Prescient  of  the  future,  he 
must  have  his  infant  hand 
honoured  with  kisses  ;  and 
he  who  had  scarce  been  freed 
from  swathing  bands,  plays 
with  the  fillets  of  a  mitre. 

A  boy  cries  out,  and  Milan 
would  have  Ambrose  receive 
the  mitre  :  Ambrose  flees 
from  it,  but  honours  ever 
pursue  them  that  run  from 
them. 

At  last,  the  sacred  mitre 
crowns  this  head  where  wis- 
dom sits  :  the  helmet  once 
on,  our  warrior  gives  Arius 
battle. 

Unflinching,  he  fears  neither 
sceptres,  nor  a  haughty  em- 
press ;  and  when  a  blood- 
stained Csesar  attempts  to 
enter  the  church,  he  closes 
the  doors  against  him  and 
repels  him  from  the  holy 
spot. 

He  washes  away  the  sins 
of  Augustine  in  the  heavenly 
laver  of  baptism  :  companion 
to  the  martyrs  by  his  faith, 
he  discovers  the  relics  of 
Martyrs. 

Holy  Pontiff,  now  with  thy 
scourge  drive  away  far  from 
us  the  furious  wolf  of  hell : 
that  flock  which  thou  once 
didst  govern,  let  it  for  ever 
enjoy  thy  protection. 

To  God  the  Father,  and  to 
his  Only  Son,  and  to  the 
Holy  Paraclete,  be  glory  now 
and  for  all  ages. 

Amen. 


PftAYER. 


iEterne  omnipotens  Deus, 
qui  beatum  Ambrosium,  tui 


O  Almighty  and  everlasting 
God,    who    hast    given    the 


DEC.   7.      ST.   AMBROSE. 


385 


Blessed  Ambrose,  the  Con- 
fessor of  thy  holy  name,  to 
be  a  Doctor  of  heavenly  truth, 
not  to  this  Church  (of  Milan) 
alone,  but  to  all  the  Churches 
throughout  the  world :  grant, 
that  the  doctrine  he  taught 
by  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  may  be  ever  firmly 
fixed  in  our  hearts,  and  that 
he  whom  we  tenderly  love  as 
the  Patron  thou  hast  given 
to  us,  may  be  to  us  a  de- 
fender, powerful  to  obtain  us 
thy  mercy.  Through  Christ 
our  Lord.    Amen. 


nominis  Confessorum,  non 
solum  huic  Ecclesice,  sed  om- 
nibus per  mundum  diffusis 
Ecclesiis  Doctorem  dedisti ; 
prsesta  ut,  quod  ille  divino 
afflatus  Spiritu  docuit,  nos- 
tras jugiter  stabiliatur  in  cor- 
dibus,  et  quern  Patronum,  te 
donante,  amplectimur,  eum 
apud  tuam  misericordiam 
defensorem  habeamus.  Per 
Christum  Dominum  nos- 
trum.   Amen. 


The  Mozarabic  Liturgy  has  nothing  proper  on  St. 
Ambrose.  The  Greeks,  on  the  contrary,  honour  the 
memory  of  the  great  Bishop  of  Milan  by  Hymns 
replete  with  the  most  magnificent  praises.  We  give 
a  few  of  the  most  striking  passages. 


HYMN   TO   ST.   AMBROSE. 


{Taken  from  the  Mencea  of  the  Greeks.    December  7.) 


Thou  that  didst  adorn  with 
twofold  virtue  the  throne  of 
the  Prefecture,  didst  merito- 
riously fill  the  throne  of  the 
hierarchy  on  which  divine 
inspiration  placed  thee:  faith- 
ful steward,  therefore,  in 
both  dignities,  thou  hast  in- 
herited a  double  crown. 

Thou  didst  purify  thy  soul 
and  body  by  continency,  and 
labours,  and  much  watching, 
and  intense  prayer,  O  divinely 
wise  one,  O  vessel  of  election 
of  our  God  !  thou  wast  like 
to  the  Apostles,  thou  didst 
receive,  like  them,  the  gifts 
of  the  Holy  Ghost. 


Prsef ecturse  thronum  exor- 
nans  virtute  duplici,  divina 
inspiratione  hierarchise  thro- 
num utiliterimplevisti :  ideo 
fidelis  ceconomus  principatus 
in  utroque  factus,  duplicem 
coronam  hsereditasti. 


In  continentia,  et  labori- 
bus,  et  vigiliis  multis,  et 
precibus  intensis  animam 
corpusque  purificasti,  Dei 
sapiens,  vas  electionis  Dei 
nostri,  Apostolis  similis  de- 
monstratus,  accepisti  dona. 


2c 


386 


ADVENT. 


Pium  regem  post  pecca- 
tum,  ut  olim  David  Nathan, 
audacter  animadvertens,  Am- 
brosi  beatissime,  sapienter 
excommunicationi  subjecisti, 
et  poenitentiam  docens  Deo 
digne,  in  gregem  tuum  revo- 
casti. 


Sancte  Pater,  sacratissime 
Ambrosi,  lyra  resonans,  sa- 
lutare  melos  orthodoxorum 
dogmatum,  attrahens  Fide- 
lium  animas,  canora  divini 
Paracliti  cithara  ;  Dei  mag- 
num organum,  laudandissima 
Ecclesiae  tuba,  fons  limpi- 
dissimus,  fluentum  eluens 
libidinum ;  Christum  ora, 
Christum  deprecare  dari 
Ecclesia3  unanimem  pacem  et 
magi]  am  misericordiam. 

Eliam  prophetam  imitatus, 
Baptistamque  similiter,  reges 
inique  agentes  animadver- 
tisti  viriliter  ;  hierarchise 
thronum  divinitus  ornasti,  et 
miraculorum  multitudine 
mundum  ditasti,  ideoque  di- 
vina3  Scripturse  alimonia 
fi deles  roborasti,  et  infideles 
immutasti.  Sacerdos  Am- 
brosi, Christum  Deum  de- 
precare dare  peccatorum  re- 
missionem  recolentibus  cum 
amore  tuam  sanctam  memo- 
riam. 


Ab  omni  noxa  adversa- 
riorum  servasti  gregem, 
Beate ;  et  Arii  errorem  om- 


As  heretofore  Nathan  re- 
proved David,  so  didst  thou 
boldly  chide  the  good  Empe- 
ror after  his  sin,  O  most 
blessed  Ambrose  !  Thou 
didst  wisely  subject  him  to 
excommunication. and  taught 
him  to  do  condign  penance  : 
thus  restoring  him  to  thy 
fold. 

Holy  Father,  most  saintly 
Ambrose,  sweet  -  sounding 
lute,  refreshing  melody  of 
true  dogmas,  attracting  the 
souls  of  believers,  sweet  harp 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  organ  of 
God,  incomparable  trumpet 
of  the  Church,  most  limpid 
fountain  which  cleansest  the 
turbid  passions  !  offer  thy 
prayers  to  Christ,  and  be- 
seech him  to  bestow  on  his 
Church  unanimity  and  peace 
and  plentiful  mercy. 

Following  the  examples  of 
the  Prophet  Elias  and  of  the 
Baptist,  thou  didst  fearlessly 
reprove  Kings  for  their  evil 
doings ;  thou  didst  admirably 
adorn  the  throne  of  the  hier- 
archy ;  thou  didst  enrich  the 
wTorld  with  the  multitude  of 
thy  miracles ;  and  therefore 
thou  didst  strengthen  the 
faithful  and  convert  the  un- 
believers, by  the  nourish- 
ment of  the  divine  Scriptures. 
O  Ambrose  S  O  holy  Priest  ! 
pray  to  Christ  our  Lord  that 
he  grant  the  forgiveness  of 
their  sins  to  them  that  cele- 
brate with  love  thy  holy 
memory. 

Thou,  0  Blessed  Pastor, 
didst  defend  thy  flock  from 
all  their  enemies  ;  and  by  the 


DEC.   7.      ST.   AMBEOSE. 


387 


splendour  of  thy  teachings, 
didst  dissipate  every  error  of 
Arius. 

The  assembly  of  the  priests 
rejoices  in  celebrating  thy 
holy  memory,  and  the  choirs 
of  the  faithful,  united  with 
the  Angelic  spirits,  exult  and 
are  glad  ;  the  Church  to- 
day is  spiritually  nourished 
by  thy  words,  O  Father  Am- 
brose ! 

Thou  art  the  husbandman, 
that  tillest  the  field,  which  is 
open  to  all  men,  of  faith  and 
doctrine  ;  thou  there  sowest 
the  dogmas  of  truth,  for  thou 
art  filled  with  heavenly  wis- 
dom ;  and  the  grain  being 
multiplied,  thou  distributest 
to  the  Church  the  heavenly 
bread  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

Rome  celebrates  thy  glo- 
rious deeds,  for,  bright  as  a 
star,  thou  shootest  forth  every- 
where the  great  blaze  of  thy 
miracles.  O  truly  admirable 
Pontiff ! 

From  the  earliest  dawn 
thou  didst  approach  to  Christ, 
richly  bright  with  his  rays 
upon  thee :  therefore,  having 
reached  the  divine  light,  thou 
enlightenest  them  that, 
through  the  world,  honour 
thee  with  faith. 

Thou  didst  consecrate  thy 
body  and  soul  to  God ;  and 
thy  heart,  O  Father,  which 
was  made  for  great  gifts, 
thou  didst  fasten  to  his  sweet 
love,  and  there  it  clung  in- 
tensely. 

Intrusted  with  the  talent 
of  the  Word,  thou  didst,  as  a 
wise  and  prudent  servant, 
put  it  out  to  usury  and  mul- 


nem  delevisti  splendore  ver- 
borum  tuorum. 

In  divina  tua  memoria 
sacerdotum  ccetus  oblectatur, 
et  Fidelium  chori  cum  Ange- 
lis  incorporatis  exsultant  et 
delectantur,  nutriturque  ho- 
die  spiritualiter  Ecclesia  in 
verbis  tuis,  Ambrosi  pater. 


Agricola  videris  sulcans 
fidei  promptum  agrum  et 
doctrinse  ;  inseminans,  Dei- 
sapiens,  dogmata  ;  et  spica 
multiplicata,  distribuis  Ec- 
clesise  coelestem  Spiritus 
panem. 


Roma  tua  celebrat  prseclara 
gesta ;  fulgidus  enim  ut  sidus 
un  clique  miraculorum  mag- 
nas  faces,  sacerdos,  cum  fide 
immisisti,  vere  mirande. 

Mane  accedens  ad  Chris- 
tum, splendoribus  fulgebas 
ditanter  :  ideo  divinum  nac- 
tus  lumen,  illuminas  hono- 
rantes  et  ubique  cum  fide. 


Corpus  tuum  et  animam 
Deo  consecrasti :  et  capax 
donorum,  pater,  cor  tuum 
conglutinasti  dulci  amori 
enixe  inhaerens. 


Accepto,  sapiens,  Verbi 
talento,  ut  servus  fidelis  ad 
mensam  illud  dedisti  et  mul- 
tiplicasti,   atque  adsportasti 


388  ADVENT. 

integrum  cum  fructu  Domino    tiply  it  and  bring  it  and  its 
tuo,  Ambrosi.  interest    to    thy    Lord,    O 

Ambrose  ! 
Claram  fecisti  stolam  sa-  The  holy  robe  of  the  pon- 
cram  laboribus  tuis,  et  visus  tiff  thou  didst  adorn  with  thy 
es  pastor  rationabilium  alum-  labours  :  thou  wast  the  wise 
norum  sapiens,  quos  baculo  shepherd  of  intellectual  flock, 
tuo  in  doctrinse  pascua  ante-  and  with  thy  pastoral  staff 
pellebas.  thou  didst  lead  them  before 

thee    into    the    pastures    of 

doctrine. 

And  we,  too,  O  Immortal  Ambrose,  unworthy 
though  we  be  to  take  a  part  in  such  a  choir,  we,  too, 
will  praise  thee !  We  will  praise  the  magnificent 
gifts  which  our  Lord  bestowed  upon  thee.  Thou  art 
the  Light  of  the  Church  and  the  Salt  of  the  earth  by 
thy  heavenly  teachings;  thou  art  the  vigilant  Pastor, 
the  affectionate  Father,  the  unyielding  Pontiff;  oh  ! 
how  must  thy  heart  have  loved  that  Jesus,  for  whom 
w7e  are  now  preparing  !  With  what  undaunted 
courage  thou  didst,  at  the  risk  of  thy  life,  resist  thetn 
that  blasphemed  this  Divine  Word  !  Well  indeed 
hast  thou  thereby  merited  to  be  made  one  of  the 
Patrons  of  the  faithful,  to  lead  them,  each  year,  to 
Him  who  is  their  Saviour  and  their  King !  Let, 
then,  a  ray  of  the  truth,  which  filled  thy  sublime 
soul  whilst  here  on  earth,  penetrate  even  into  our 
hearts  ;  give  us  a  relish  of  thy  sweet  and  eloquent 
writings ;  get  us  a  sentiment  of  devoted  love  for  the 
Jesus  who  is  so  soon  to  be  wuth  us  Obtain  for  us, 
after  thy  example,  to  take  up  his  cause  with  energy, 
against  the  enemies  of  our  holy  faith,  against  the 
spirits  of  darkness,  and  against  ourselves.  Let  every- 
thing yield,  let  everything  be  annihilated,  let  every 
knee  bow,  let  every  heart  confess  itself  conquered,  in 
the  presence  of  Jesus,  the  eternal  Word  of  the 
Father,  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  Son  of  Mary,  our 
Redeemer,  our  Judge,  our  All. 

Glorious  Saint !  humble  us,  as  thou  didst  Theo- 


DEC.    7.      ST.    AMBROSE.  .  389 

dosius;  raise  us  up  again  contrite  and  converted,  as 
thou  didst  lovingly  raise  up  this  thy  strayed  sheep 
and  carry  him  back  to  thy  fold.  Pray,  too,  for  the 
Catholic  Hierarchy,  of  which  thou  wast  one  of  the 
brightest  ornaments.  Ask  of  God,  for  the  Priests 
and  Bishops  of  his  Church,  that  humble  yet  inflexible 
courage,  wherewith  they  should  resist  the  Powers 
of  the  world,  as  often  as  they  abuse  the  authority 
which  God  has  put  into  their  hands.  Let  their  face, 
as  our  Lord  himself  speaks,  become  hard  as  adamant1 
against  the  enemies  of  the  Church,  and  may  they  set 
themselves  as  a  wall  for  the  house  of  Israel  ;2  may 
they  consider  it  as  the  highest  privilege,  and  the 
greatest-  happiness,  to  be  permitted  to  expose  their 
property,  and  peace,  and  life,  for  the  liberty  of  this 
holy  Spouse  of  Christ. 

Valiant  champion  of  the  Truth  !  arm  thyself  with 
thy  scourge,  which  the  Church  has  given  thee  as  thy 
emblem  ;  and  drive  far  from  the  flock  of  Christ  the 
wolves  of  the  Arian  tribe,  which,  under  various 
names,  are  even  now  prowling  round  the  fold.  Let 
our  ears  be  no  longer  shocked  with  the  blasphemies 
of  these  proud  teachers,  who  presume  to  scan,  judge, 
approve,  and  blame,  by  the  measure  of  their  vain 
conceits,  the  great  God  who  has  given  them  every- 
thing they  are  and  have,  and  who,  out  of  infinite 
love  for  his  creatures,  has  deigned  to  humble  himself 
and  become  one  of  ourselves,  although  knowing  that 
men  would  make  this  very  condescension  an  argu- 
ment for  denying  that  he  is  God. 

Remove  our  prejudices,  O  thou  great  lover  of  truth  ! 
and  crush  within  us  those  time-serving  and  unwise 
theories,  which  tend  to  make  us  Christians  forget 
that  Jesus  is  the  King  of  this  world,  and  look  on 
the  law,  which  equally  protects  error  and  truth,  as 
the  perfection  of  modern  systems.     May  we  under- 

1  Ezechiel,  i.  9.  2  Ibid.  xiii.  5. 


390  ADVENT. 

stand  that  the  rights  of  the  Son  of  God  and  his 
Church  do  not  cease  to  exist,  because  the  world 
ceases  to  acknowledge  them  ;  that  to  give  the  same 
protection  to  the  true  religion  and  to  those  false 
doctrines,  which  men  have  set  up  in  opposition  to 
the  teaching  of  the  Church,  is  to  deny  that  all  potver 
has  been  given  to  Jesus  in  heaven  and  on  earth; 
that  those  scourges  which  periodically  come  upon  the 
world  are  the  lessons  which  Jesus  gives  to  those  who 
trample  on  the  Rights  of  his  Church,  Rights  which 
he  so  justly  acquired  by  dying  on  the  Cross  for 
all  mankind ;  that,  finally,  though  it  be  out  of  our 
power  to  restore  those  Rights  to  people  that  have  had 
the  misfortune  to  resign  them,  yet  it  is  our  duty, 
under  pain  of  being  accomplices  with  those  who 
would  not  have  Jesus  reign  over  them,  to  acknow- 
ledge that  they  are  the  Rights  of  the  Church. 

And  lastly,  dear  Saint,  in  the  midst  of  the  dark 
clouds  which  lower  over  the  world,  console  our  holy 
Mother  the  Church,  who  is  now  but  a  stranger  and 
pilgrim  amidst  those  nations  which  were  her  children, 
but  have  now  denied  her;  may  she  cull  the  flowers 
of  holy  Virginity  among  the  faithful,  and  may  that 
holy  state  be  the  attraction  of  those  fortunate  souls 
who  understand  how  grand  is  the  dignity  of  being  a 
Spouse  of  Christ.  If,  at  the  very  commencement  of 
her  ministry,  during  the  ages  of  persecution,  the  holy 
Church  could  lead  countless  Virgins  to  Jesus,  may  it 
be  so  even  now  in  our  own  age  of  crime  and  sen- 
suality ;  may  those  pure  and  generous  hearts,  formed 
and  consecrated  to  the  Lamb  by  this  holy  Mother, 
become  more  and  more  numerous  ;  and  so  give  to  her 
enemies  this  irresistible  proof  that  she  is  not  barren, 
as  they  pretend,  and  that  it  is  she  that  alone 
preserves  the  world  from  universal  corruption,  by 
leavening  it  with  this  angelic  purity. 


DEC.   7.      ST.   AMBROSE.  391 

Let  us  consider  that  last  visible  preparation  for 
the  coming  of  the  Messias  :  a  universal  Peace.  The 
din  of  war  is  silenced,  and  the  entire  world  is  intent 
in  expectation.  "  There  are  three  Silences  to  be  con- 
"  sidered/'  says  St.  Bonaventure,  in  one  of  his  Sermons 
for  Advent :  "  the  first  in  the  days  of  Noah,  after  the 
"  deluge  had  destroyed  all  sinners ;  the  second,  in 
"  the  days  of  Caesar  Augustus,  when  all  nations  were 
"subjected  to  the  empire ;  the  third  will  be  at  the 
"  death  of  Antichrist,  when  the  Jews  shall  be  con- 
"  verted."  O  Jesus !  Prince  of  Peace,  thou  wiliest 
that  the  world  shall  be  in  peace,  when  thou  art 
coming  down  to  dwell  in  it.  Thou  didst  foretell  this 
by  the  Psalmist,  thy  ancestor  in  the  flesh,  who, 
speaking  of  thee,  said  :  "  He  shall  make  wars  to  cease 
"  even  to  the  end  of  the  earth ;  he  shall  destroy  the 
bow,  and  break  the  weapons ;  and  the  shield  he 
"  shall  burn  in  the  fire."1  And  why  is  this,  O  Jesus  ? 
It  is,  that  hearts,  which  thou  art  to  visit,  must  be 
silent  and  attentive.  It  is  that  before  thou  enterest 
a  soul,  thou  troublest  it  in  thy  great  mercy,  as  the 
world  was  troubled  and  agitated  before  the  universal 
peace ;  then  thou  bringest  peace  into  that  soul,  and 
thou  takest  possession  of  her.  Oh  !  come  quickly, 
dear  Lord,  subdue  our  rebellious  senses,  bring  low 
the  haughtiness  of  our  spirit,  crucify  our  flesh,  rouse 
our  hearts  from  their  sleep :  and  then  may  thy 
entrance  into  our  souls  be  a  feast-day  of  triumph, 
as  when  a  conqueror  enters  a  city  which  he  has 
taken  after  a  long  siege.  Sweet  Jesus,  Prince  of 
Peace  !  give  us  peace  ;  fix  thy  kingdom  so  firmly  in 
our  hearts,  that  thou  may  est  reign  in  us  for  ever. 

RESPONSORY  OF  ADVENT. 
{Roman  Breviary,  Matins  of  the  First  Sunday.) 

1$.  I  looked  in  the  vision        1$.  Aspiciebam     in     visu 
of  night,  and  lo!  in  the  clouds    noctis,   et   ecce   in   nubibus 

1  Ps.  xlv.  10. 


392 


ADVENT. 


cceli  Filius  hominis  veniebat : 
et  datum  est  ei  regnum  et 
honor.  *  Et  omnis  populus, 
tribus  et  lingua?  servient  ei.  ft. 
Potestas  ejus  potestas  seterna, 
qua3  non  auf  eretur,  et  regnum 
ejus  quod  non  corrumpetur. 
*  Et  omnis  populus,  tribus  et 
linguae  servient  ei. 


of  heaven  there  came  the  Son 
of  Man  :  and  empire  and  ho- 
nour was  given  unto  him.* 
And  all  peoples,  and  tribes, 
and  tongues,  shall  serve  him. 
ft.  His  power  is  an  everlast- 
ing power  that  shall  not  be 
taken  away,  and  his  kingdom 
that  shall  not  be  destroyed. 
*  And  all  peoples,  and  tribes, 
and  tongues,  shall  serve  him. 


dec.  8.    the  immaculate  conception.    393 

December  8. 
THE  IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION 

OF  THE  MOST  BLESSED  VIRGIN. 


At  length,  on  the  distant  horizon,  rises,  with  a  soft 
and  radiant  light,  the  aurora  of  the  Sun  which  has 
been  so  long  desired.  The  happy  Mother  of  the 
Messias  was  to  be  born  before  the  Messias  himself; 
and  this  is  the  day  of  the  Conception  of  Mary.  The 
earth  already  possesses  a  first  pledge  of  the  divine 
mercy ;  the  Son  of  Man  is  near  at  hand.  Two  true 
Israelites,  Joachim  and  Anne,  noble  branches  of  the 
family  of  David,  find  their  union,  after  a  long  barren- 
ness, made  fruitful  by  the  divine  omnipotence.  Glory 
be  to  God,  who  has  been  mindful  of  his  promises,  and 
who  deigns  to  announce,  from  the  high  heavens,  the 
end  of  the  deluge  of  iniquity,  by  sending  upon  the 
earth  the  sweet  white  Dove  that  bears  the  tidings  of 
peace ! 

The  Feast  of  the  Blessed  Virgin's  Immaculate  Con- 
ception is  the  most  solemn  of  all  those  which  the 
Church  celebrates  during  the  holy  time  of  Advent ; 
and  if  the  first  part  of  the  Cycle  had  to  offer  us  the 
commemoration  of  some  one  of  the  Mysteries  of  Mary, 
there  was  none  whose  object  could  better  harmonise 
with  the  spirit  of  the  Church  in  this  mystic  season  of 
expectation.  Let  us,  then,  celebrate  this  solemnity 
with  joy;  for  the  Conception  of  Mary  tells  us  that 
the  Birth  of  Jesus  is  not  far  off. 

The  intention  of  the  Church,  in  this  Feast,  is  not 
only  to  celebrate  the  anniversary  of  the  happy 
moment  in  which  began,  in  the  womb  of  the  pious 


394  ADVENT. 

Anne,  the  life  of  the  ever-glorious  Virgin  Mary ;  but 
also  to  honour  the  sublime  privilege,  by  which  Mary 
was  preserved  from  the  original  stain,  which,  by  a 
sovereign  and  universal  decree,  is  contracted  by  all 
the  children  of  Adam  the  very  moment  they  are 
conceived  in  their  mother's  womb.  The  faith  of  the 
Catholic  Church  on  the  subject  of  the  Conception  of 
Mary  is  this :  that  at  the  very  instant,  when  God 
united  the  Soul  of  Mary,  which  he  had  created,  to 
the  Body  which  it  was  to  animate,  this  ever-blessed 
Soul  did  not  only  not  contract  the  stain,  which,  at 
that  same  instant,  denies  every  human  soul,  but  was 
filled  with  an  immeasurable  grace  which  rendered 
her,  from  that  moment,  the  mirror  Of  the  sanctity  of 
God  himself,  as  far  as  this  is  possible  to  a  creature. 
The  Church,  with  her  infallible  authority,  declared, 
by  the  lips  of  Pius  the  Ninth,  that  this  article  of  her 
faith  had  been  revealed  by  God  himself.  The  De- 
finition was  received  with  enthusiasm  by  the  whole 
of  Christendom,  and  the  Eighth  of  December  of  the 
year  1854  was  thus  made  one  of  the  most  memorable 
days  of  the  Church's  history. 

It  was  due  to  his  own  infinite  sanctity  that  God 
should  suspend,  in  this  instance,  the  law  which  his 
divine  justice  had  passed  upon  all  the  children  of 
Adam.  The  relations  which  Mary  was  to  bear  to  the 
Divinity,  could  not  be  reconciled  with  her  undergoing 
the  humiliation  of  this  punishment.  She  was  not 
only  Daughter  of  the  Eternal  Father ;  she  was  des- 
tined also  to  become  the  very  Mother  of  the  Son,  and 
the  veritable  Spouse  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  nothing 
defiled  could  be  permitted  to  enter,  even  for  an  atom 
of  time,  into  the  creature  that  was  thus  predestined 
to  contract  such  close  relations  with  the  adorable 
Trinity;  not  a  speck  could  be  permitted  to  tarnish  in 
Mary  that  perfect  purity  which  the  infinitely  holy 
God  requires  in  those  who  are  one  day  to  be  admitted 
to  enjoy  even  the  sight  of  his  divine   majesty  in 


DEC.   8.      THE   IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION.      395 

heaven ;  in  a  word,  as  the  great  Doctor  St.  Anselm 
says,  "  it  was  just  that  this  Holy  Virgin  should  be 
"  adorned  with  the  greatest  'purity  which  can  be  con- 
"  ceived  after  that  of  God  himself,  since  God  the  Fa- 
"ther  was  to  give  to  her,  as  her  Child,  that  only 
"  Begotten  Son,  whom  he  loved  as  himself,  as  being 
"  begotten  to  him  from  his  own  bosom  ;  and  this  in 
"  such  a  manner,  that  the  self-same  Son  of  God  was, 
"  by  nature,  the  Son  of  both  God  the  Father  and  of 
"  this  Blessed  Virgin.  This  same  Son  chose  her  to  be 
"  substantially  his  Mother ;  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
"  willed  that  in  Sfer  wombfie  would  operate  the  con- 
"  ception  and  birth  of  Him,  from  whom  he  himself 
"  proceeded."1 

Moreover,  the  close  ties  which  were  to  unite  the 
Son  of  God  with  Mary,  and  which  would  elicit  from 
him  the  tenderest  love  and  the  most  filial  reverence 
for  her,  had  been  present  to  the  divine  thought  from 
all  eternity  :  and  the  conclusion  forces  itself  upon  us, 
that,  therefore,  the  Divine  Word  had  for  this  his 
future  Mother  a  love  infinitely  greater  than  that 
which  he  bore  for  all  his  other  creatures.  Mary's 
honour  was  infinitely  dear  to  him,  because  she  w^as  to 
be  his  Mother,  chosen  to  be  so  by  his  eternal  and 
merciful  decrees.  The  Son's  love  protected  the  Mo- 
ther. She,  indeed,  in  her  sublime  humility,  willingly 
submitted  to  whatever  the  rest  of  God's  creatures  had 
brought  on  themselves,  and  obeyed  every  tittle  of 
those  laws  which  were  never  meant  for  her  :  but  that 
humiliating  barrier,  which  confronts  every  child  of 
Adam  at  the  first  moment  of  his  existence,  and  keeps 
him  from  light  and  grace  until  he  shall  have  been  re- 
generated by  a  new  birth, — oh !  this  could  not  be 
permitted  to  stand  in  Mary's  way, — her  Son  forbade 
it. 

The  Eternal  Father  would  not  do  less  for  the 
Second  Eve  than  he  had  done  for  the  First ;  yet  she 

1  De  Conceptu  Virginali,  Cap.  xviii. 


396  ADVENT. 

was  created,  as  was  also  the  first  Adam,  in  the  state 
of  original  justice,  which  she  afterwards  forfeited  by 
sin.  The  Son  of  God  would  not  permit  that  the 
Woman,  from  whom  he  was  to  take  the  nature  of 
Man,  should  be  deprived  of  that  gift  which  he  had 
given  even  to  her  who  was  the  mother  of  sin.  The 
Holy  Ghost,  who  was  to  overshadow  Mary  and  pro- 
duce Jesus  within  her  by  his  divine  operation,  would 
not  permit  that  foul  stain,  in  which  we  are  all  con- 
ceived, to  rest,  even  for  an  instant,  on  this  his  Spouse. 
All  men  were  to  contract  the  sin  of  Adam ;  the  sen- 
tence was  universal ;  but  God's  own  Mother  is  not 
included.  God,  who  is  the  author  of  that  law  ;  God, 
who  was  free  to  make  it  as  he  willed  ;  had  power  to 
exclude  from  it  Her  whom  he  had  predestined  to  be 
his  Own  in  so  many  ways  ;  he  could  exempt  her,  and 
it  was  just  that  he  should  exempt  her  ;  therefore,  he 
did  it. 

Was  ifc  not  this  grand  exemption  which  God  him- 
self foretold,  when  the  guilty  pair,  whose  children  we 
all  are,  appeared  before  him  in  the  garden  of  Eden  \ 
In  the  anathema  which  fell  upon  the  serpent,  there 
was  included  a  promise  of  mercy  to  us.  /  will  put 
enmities,  said  the  Lord,  between  thee  and  the  Wo- 
man, and  thy  seed  and  her  seed :  she  shall  crush 
thy  head}  Thus  was  salvation  promised  the  hu- 
man race  under  the  form  of  a  victory  over  Satan ; 
and  this  victory  is  to  be  gained  by  the  Woman,  and 
she  will  gain  it  for  us  also.  Even  granting,  as  some 
read  this  text,  that  it  is  the  Son  of  the  Woman  that 
is  alone  to  gain  this  victory,  the  enmity  between  the 
Woman  and  the  Serpent  is  clearly  expressed,  and  she, 
the  Woman,  with  her  own  foot,  is  to  crush  the  headoi 
the  hated  Serpent.  The  Second  Eve  is  to  be  worthy 
of  the  Second  Adam,  conquering  and  not  to  be  con- 
quered.    The  human  race  is  one  day  to  be  avenged, 

1  Gen.  iii.  15. 


DEC.   8.      THE  IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION.       397 

not  only  by  God  made  Man,  but  also  by  the  Woman 
miraculously  exempted  from  every  stain  of  sin,  in 
whom  the  primaeval  creation,  which  was  in  justice 
and  holiness,1  will  thus  reappear  in  her,  just  as  though 
the  original  sin  had  never  been  committed. 

Raise  up  your  heads,  then,  ye  children  of  Adam, 
and  shake  off  your  chains  !  This  day,  the  humiliation, 
which  weighed  you  down,  is  annihilated.  Behold  ! 
Mary,  she  who  is  of  the  same  flesh  and  blood  as  your- 
selves, has  seen  the  torrent  of  sin,  which  swept  along 
all  the  generations  of  mankind,  she  has  seen  it  flow 
back  at  her  presence  and  not  touch  her ;  the  infernal 
dragon  has  turned  away  his  head,  daring  not  to  breathe 
his  venom  upon  her;  the  dignity  of  your  origin  is 
given  to  her  in  all  its  primitive  grandeur.  This  happy 
day,  then,  on  which  the  original  purity  of  your  race 
is  renewed,  must  be  a  Feast  to  you.  The  Second  Eve 
is  created,  and  from  her  own  blood,  (which,  with  the 
exception  of  the  element  of  sin,  is  the  same  as  that 
which  makes  you  to  be  the  children  of  Adam,)  she  is 
shortly  to  give  you  the  God-Man,  who  proceeds  from 
her  according  to  the  flesh,  as  he  proceeds  from  the 
Father  according  to  the  eternal  generation. 

And  how  can  we  do  less  than  admire  and  love  the 
incomparable  purity  of  Mary  in  her  Immaculate 
Conception,  when  we  hear  even  that  God,  who  thus 
prepared  her  to  become  his  Mother,  saying  to  her,  in 
the  divine  Canticle,  these  words  of  complacent  love  : 
Thou  art  all  fair,  0  my  Love !  and  there  is  not  a 
spot  in  thee  P  It  is  the  God  of  all-holiness  that 
here  speaks  ;  that  eye,  which  sees  all  things,  finds 
not  a  vestige,  not  a  shadow  of  sin  ;  therefore  does  he 
delight  in  her,  and  admire  in  her  that  gift  of  his  own 
condescending  munificence.  We  cannot  be  surprised 
after  this,  that  Gabriel,  when  he  came  down  from 
heaven  to  announce  the  Incarnation  to  her,  is  full 

iEph.  iv.  24.  2Cant.  iv.  7. 


398  ADVENT. 

of  admiration  at  the  sight  of  that  purity,  whose 
beginning  was  so  glorious  and  whose  progress  was 
immeasurable ;  and  that  this  blessed  Spirit  should 
bow  down  profoundly  before  this  young  Maid  of 
Nazareth,  and  salute  her  with,  "  Hail,  0  Full  of 
Grace  !" 1  And  who  is  this  Gabriel  ?  An  Arch- 
angel, that  lives  amidst  the  grandest  magnificences 
of  God's  creation,  amidst  all  the  gorgeous  riches  of 
heaven ;  who  is  Brother  to  the  Cherubim  and  Sera- 
phim, to  the  Thrones  and  Dominations  ;  whose  eye 
is  accustomed  to  gaze  on  those  nine  angelic  choirs 
with  their  dazzling  brightness  of  countless  degrees  of 
light  and  grace ;  he  has  found  on  earth,  in  a  creature 
of  a  nature  below  that  of  Angels,  the  fulness  of  grace, 
of  that  grace  which  had  been  given  to  the  Angels 
measuredly.  This  fulness  of  grace  was  in  Mary  from 
the  very  first  instant  of  her  existence.  She  is  the 
future  Mother  of  God,  and  she  was  ever  holy,  ever 
pure,  ever  Immaculate. 

This  truth  of  Mary's  Immaculate  Conception,  which 
was  revealed  to  the  Apostles  by  the  divine  Son  of 
Mary,  inherited  by  the  Church,  taught  by  the  Holy 
Fathers,  believed  by  each  generation  of  the  Christian 
people  with  an  ever  increasing  explicitness,  this  truth, 
we  say,  was  implied  in  the  very  notion  of  a  Mother 
of  God.  To  believe  that  Mary  was  Mother  of  God, 
was  an  implicitly  believing  that  she,  on  whom  this 
sublime  dignity  was  conferred,  had  never  been  defiled 
with  the  slightest  stain  of  sin,  and  that  God  had 
bestowed  upon  her  an  absolute  exemption  from  sin. 
But  now,  the  Immaculate  Conception  of  Mary  rests 
on  an  explicit  Definition  dictated  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Peter  has  spoken  by  the  mouth  of  Pius  ;  and  when 
Peter  has  spoken,  every  Christian  should  believe ; 
for  the  Son  of  God  has  said  :  /  have  prayed  for  thee, 
Peter,  that  thy  faith  fail  not.2      And  again:  The 

1  St.  Luke,  i.  28.  £  St.  Luke,  xxii.  32. 


DEC.   8.      THE   IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION.      399 

Holy  Ghost,  whom  the  Father  will  send  in  my 
name,  he  will  teach  you  all  things,  and  bring  all 
things  to  your  mind,  ivhatsoever  I  shall  have  said 
to  you} 

The  Symbol  of  our  faith  has  therefore  received 
not  a  new  truth,  but  a  new  light  on  a  truth  which 
was  previously  the  object  of  the  universal  belief. 
On  that  great  day  of  the  Definition,  the  infernal 
serpent  was  again  crushed  beneath  the  victorious 
foot  of  the  Virgin-Mother,  and  the  Lord  graciously 
gave  us  the  strongest  pledge  of  his  mercy.  He  still 
loves  this  guilty  earth,  since  he  has  deigned  to  en- 
lighten it  with  one  of  the  brightest  rays  of  his 
Mother's  glory.  How  this  earth  of  ours  exulted  ! 
The  present  generation  will  never  forget  the  en- 
thusiasm with  which  the  entire  universe  received  the 
tidings  of  the  Definition.  It  was  an  event  of  mysterious 
importance  which  thus  marked  this  second  half  of 
our  century  ;  and  we  shall  look  forward  to  the  future 
with  renewed  confidence  ;  for  if  the  Holy  Ghost  bids 
us  tremble  for  the  days  when  Truths  are  diminished 
among  the  children  of  men,2  he  would,  consequently, 
have  us  look  on  those  times  as  blessed  by  God  in 
which  we  receive  an  increase  of  truth ;  an  increase 
both  in  light  and  in  authority. 

The  Church,  even  before  the  solemn  proclamation 
of  the  grand  dogma,  kept  the  Feast  of  this  8th  day  of 
December ;  which  was,  in  reality,  a  profession  of  her 
faith.  It  is  true,  that  the  Feast  was  not  called  the 
Immaculate  Conception,  but  simply  the  Conception 
of  Mary.  But  the  fact  of  such  a  Feast  being  insti- 
tuted and  kept,  was  an  unmistakable  expression  of 
the  faith  of  Christendom  in  that  truth.  St.  Bernard 
and  the  Angelical  Doctor,  St.  Thomas,  both  teach 
that  the  Church  cannot  celebrate  the  Feast  of  what 
is  not  holy  ;  the  Conception  of  Mary,  therefore,  was 

1  St.  John,  xiv.  26.  a  Ps.  xi.  2. 


400  ADVENT. 

holy  and  immaculate,  since  the  Church  has,  for  ages 
past,  honoured  it  with  a  special  Feast.  The  Nativity 
of  the  same  holy  Virgin  is  kept  as  a  solemnity  in  the 
Church,  because  Mary  was  born  full  of  grace  ;  there- 
fore, had  the  first  moment  of  Mary's  existence  been 
one  of  sin,  as  is  that  of  all  the  other  children  of 
Adam,  it  never  could  have  been  made  the  subject  of 
the  reverence  of  the  Church.  Now,  there  are  few 
Feasts  so  generally  and  so  firmly  established  in  the 
Church  as  this  which  we  are  keeping  to-day. 

The  Greek  Church,  which,  more  easily  than  the 
Latin,  could  learn  what  were  the  pious  traditions  of 
the  East,  kept  this  feast  even  in  the  sixth  century,  as 
is  evident  from  the  ceremonial  or,  as  it  was  called, 
the  Type,  of  St.  Sabas.  In  the  West,  we  find  it 
established  in  the  Gothic  Church  of  Spain  as  far 
back  as  the  eighth  century.  A  celebrated  calendar 
which  was  engraved  on  marble,  in  the  ninth  century, 
for  the  use  of  the  Church  of  Naples,  attests  that  it 
had  already  been  introduced  there.  Paul,  the  Deacon, 
Secretary  to  the  Emperor  Charlemagne,  and  after- 
wards Monk  at  Monte-Cassino,  composed  a  celebrated 
Hymn  on  the  mystery  of  the  Immaculate  Conception; 
we  will  insert  this  piece  later  on,  as  it  is  given  in  the 
manuscript  copies  of  Monte-Cassino  and  Benevento. 
In  10G6,  the  Feast  was  first  established  in  England, 
in  consequence  of  the  pious  Abbot  Helsyn's1  being 
miraculously  preserved  from  shipwreck  ;  and  shortly 
after  that,  was  made  general  through  the  whole 
Island  by  the  zeal  of  the  great  St.  Anselm,  Monk  of 
the  Order  of  St.  Benedict,  and  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury. From  England  it  passed  into  Normandy,  and 
took  root  in  France.  We  find  it  sanctioned  in 
Germany,  in  a  council  held  in  1049,  at  which  St. 
Leo   IX.    was   present;    in    Navarre,    1090,  at  the 


1  Some  writers  call  him  Elsym,  and  others  Elpyn.     See  Baronius 
in  his  notes  on  the  Roman  Martyrology,  Dec.  8.   [Te.] 


DEC.   8.      THE  IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION.      401 

Abbey  of  Irach;  in  Belgium,  at  Liege,  in  1142. 
Thus  did  the  Churches  of  the  West  testify  their 
faith  in  this  mystery,  by  accepting  its  Feast,  which 
is  the  expression  of  faith. 

Lastly,  it  was  adopted  by  Rome  herself,  and  her 
doing  so  rendered  the  united  testimony  of  her  chil- 
dren.— the  other  Churches, — more  imposing  than 
ever.  It  was  Pope  Sixtus  IY.  who,  in  the  year  1476, 
published  the  decree  of  the  feast  of  Our  Lady's  Con- 
ception for  the  City  of  St.  Peter.  In  the  next 
century,  1568,  'St.  Pius  V.  published  the  universal 
edition  of  the  Roman  Breviary,  and  in  its  Calendar 
was  inserted  this  feast  as  one  of  those  Christian 
solemnities,  which  the  faithful  are  every  year  bound 
to  observe.  It  was  not  from  Rome  that  the  devotion 
of  the  Catholic  world  to  this  mystery  received  its 
first  impulse;  she  sanctioned  it  by  her  liturgical 
authority,  just  as  she  confirmed  it  by  her  doctrinal 
authority,  in  these  Our  own  days. 

The  three  great  Catholic  Nations  of  Europe, — Ger- 
many, France,  and  Spain, — vied  with  each  other  in 
their  devotion  to  this  mystery  of  Mary's  Immaculate 
Conception.  France,  by  her  King  Louis  XIV., 
obtained  from  Clement  IX.  that  this  feast  should  be 
kept  with  an  Octave  throughout  the  kingdom;  which 
favour  was  afterwards  extended  to  the  universal 
Church  by  Innocent  XII.  For  centuries  previous 
to  this,  the  Theological  Faculty  of  Paris  had  always 
exacted  from  its  Professors  the  oath  that  they  would 
defend  this  privilege  of  Mary  ;  a  pious  practice  which 
continued  as  long  as  the  University  itself. 

As  regards  Germany,  the  Emperor  Ferdinand  III., 
in  1647,  ordered  a  splendid  monument  to  be  erected 
in  the  great  square  of  Vienna.  It  is  covered  with 
emblems  and  figures  symbolical  of  Mary's  victory 
over  sin,  and  on  the  top  is  the  statue  of  the  Imma- 
culate Queen,  with  this  solemn  and  truly  Catholic 
inscription : 

2d 


402  ADVENT. 

TO    GOD,    INFINITE  IN  GOODNESS  AND   POWER, 

KING   OF  HEAVEN  AND  EARTH, 

BY  WHOM   KINGS   REIGN  j 

TO   THE  VIRGIN  MOTHER  OF   GOD 

CONCEIVED  WITHOUT   SIN, 

BY  WHOM  PRINCES   COMMAND, 

WHOM  AUSTRIA,    DEVOUTLY  LOVING,    HOLDS  AS   HER 

QUEEN  AND   PATRON  j 

FERDINAND  III.,    EMPEROR, 

CONFIDES,    GIVES,    CONSECRATES  HIMSELF, 

CHILDREN,   PEOPLE,   ARMIES,   PROVINCES, 

AND  ALL   THAT   IS    HIS, 

AND  ERECTS   IN  ACCOMPLISHMENT   OF  A  VOW 

THIS   STATUE, 

AS   A  PERPETUAL  MEMORIAL.1 

But  the  zeal  of  Spain  for  the  privilege  of  the  holy 
Mother  of  God  surpassed  that  of  all  other  nations. 
In  the  year  1398,  John  I.  King  of  Arragon,  issued  a 
Chart,  in  which  he  solemnly  places  his  person  and 
kingdom  under  the  protection  of  Mary  Immaculate 
Later  on,  Kings  Philip  III.  and  Philip  IV.  sent 
ambassadors  to  Rome,  soliciting,  in  their  names,  the 
solemn  definition,  which  heaven  reserved,  in  its 
mercy,  for  our  days.  King  Charles  III.  in  the  last 
century,  obtained  permission  from  Clement  XIII., 
that  the  Immaculate  Conception  should  be  the 
patronal  feast  of  Spain.     The   people  of  Spain,  so 

1  D.  0.  M.  supremo  coeli  terrseque  imperatori,  per  quern  reges 
regnant ;  Virgini  Deiparse  Irnmaculatse  Conceptse,  per  quam  prin- 
cipes  imperant,  in  peculiarem  Dominam,  Austrise  Patronam,  sin- 
gulari  pietate  susceptas,  se,  liberos,  populos,  exercitus,  provincias, 
omnia  denique  confidit,  donat,  consecrat,  et  in  perpetuam  rei  me- 
moriam,  statuam  hanc  ex  voto  ponit  Ferdinandus  III.  Augustus. 


DEC.   8.      THE  IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION.      403 

justly  called  the  Catholic  Kingdom,  put  over  the 
door,  or  on  the  front  of  their  houses,  a  tablet  with 
the  words  of  Mary's  privilege  written  on  it ;  and 
when  they  meet,  they  greet  each  other  with  an  ex- 
pression in  honour  of  the  same  dear  mystery.  It 
was  a  Spanish  Nun,  Mary  of  Jesus,  Abbess  of  the 
Convent  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  of  Agreda, 
who  wrote  God's  Mystic  City,  which  inspired  Murillo 
with  his  Immaculate  Conception,  the  master-piece 
of  the  Spanish  School. 

But,  whilst  thus  mentioning  the  different  nations 
which  have  been  foremost  in  their  zeal  for  this  article 
of  our  holy  faith,  the  Immaculate  Conception, — it  were 
unjust  to  pass  over  the  immense  share  which  the 
Seraphic  Order,  the  Order  of  St.  Francis  of  Assisi, 
has  had  in  the  earthly  triumph  of  our  Blessed  Mother, 
the  Queen  of  heaven  and  earth.  As  often  as  this 
feast  comes  round,  is  it  not  just  that  we  should  think 
with  reverence  and  gratitude  on  him,  who  was  the 
first  theologian  that  showed  how  closely  connected 
with  the  divine  mystery  of  the  Incarnation  is  this 
dogma  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  ?  First,  then, 
all  honour  to  the  name  of  the  pious  and  learned  John 
Duns  Scotus  !  And  when  at  length  the  great  day  of 
the  Definition  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  came, 
how  justly  merited  was  that  grand  audience,  which 
the  Vicar  of  Christ  granted  to  the  Franciscan  Order, 
and  with  which  closed  the  pageant  of  the  glorious 
solemnity  !  Pius  the  Ninth  received  from  the  hands 
of  the  children  of  St.  Francis  a  tribute  of  homage 
and  thankfulness,  which  the  Scotist  School,  after 
having  fought  four  hundred  years  in  defence  of 
Mary's  Immaculate  Conception,  now  presented  to 
the  Pontiff. 

In  the  presence  of  the  fifty-four  Cardinals,  forty- 
two  Archbishops,  and  ninety-two  Bishops ;  before  an 
immense  concourse  of  people  that  filled  Saint  Peter's, 
and  had  united  in  prayer,  begging  the  assistance  of 


404  ADVENT. 

the  Spirit  of  Truth ;  the  Vicar  of  Christ  had  just 
pronounced  the  decision  which  so  many  ages  had 
hoped  to  hear.  The  Pontiff  had  offered  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  on  the  Confession  of  Saint  Peter.  He  had 
crowned  the  Statue  of  the  Immaculate  Queen  with 
a  splendid  diadem.  Carried  on  his  lofty  throne,  and 
wearing  his  triple  crown,  he  had  reached  the  portico 
of  the  basilica ;  there  he  is  met  by  the  two  represen- 
tatives of  St.  Francis  :  they  prostrate  before  the 
throne  :  the  triumphal  procession  halts  :  and  first, 
there  advances  the  General  of  the  Friars  Minor  Obser- 
vantines;  he  presents  to  the  Holy  Father  a  branch  of 
silver  Lilies :  he  was  followed  by  the  General  of  the 
Conventual  Friars,  holding  in  his  hand  a  branch  of 
silver  Poses.  ■  The  Pope  graciously  accepted  both. 
The  Lilies  and  the  Poses  were  S3^mbolical  of  Mary's 
purity  and  love ;  the  whiteness  of  the  silver  was  the 
emblem  of  the  lovely  brightness  of  that  orb,  on  which 
is  reflected  the  light  of  the  Sun ;  for,  as  the  Canticle 
says  of  Mary,  "  she  is  beautiful  as  the  Moon."1  The 
Pontiff  was  overcome  with  emotion  at  these  gifts  of 
the  family  of  the  Seraphic  Patriarch,  to  which  we 
might  justly  apply  what  was  said  of  the  Banner  of  the 
Maid  of  Orleans:  "It  had  stood  the  brunt  of  the  battle; 
"  it  deserved  to  share  in  the  glory  of  the  victory."  And 
thus  ended  the  glories  of  that  grand  morning  of  the 
Eighth  of  December,  Eighteen-hundred  and  Fifty-four. 
It  is  thus,  O  thou  the  humblest  of  creatures,  that 
thy  Immaculate  Conception  has  been  glorified  on 
earth  !  And  how  could  it  be  else  than  a  great  joy  to 
men,  that  thou  art  honoured  by  them,  thou  the 
aurora  of  the  Sun  of  Justice  ?  Dost  thou  not  bring 
them  the  tidings  of  their  salvation  ?  Art  not  thou, 
O  Mary,  that  bright  ray  of  hope,  which  suddenly 
bursts  forth  in  the  deep  abyss  of  the  world's  misery  ? 
What  should  we  have  been  without  Jesus?  and  thou 
art  his  dearest  Mother,  the  holiest  of  God's  creatures, 

1  Cant.  vi.  9. 


DEC.  8.      THE  IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION.      405 

the   purest   of  virgins,  and   our   own    most  loving 
Mother ! 

How  thy  gentle  light  gladdens  our  wearied  eyes, 
sweet  Mother  !  Generation  had  followed  generation 
on  this  earth  of  ours.  Men  looked  up  to  heaven 
through  their  tears,  hoping  to  see  appear  on  the 
horizon  the  Star,  which  they  had  been  told  should 
disperse  the  gloomy  horrors  of  the  world's  darkness ; 
but  death  came,  and  they  sank  into  the  tomb,  with- 
out seeing  even  the  dawn  of  the  Light,  for  which 
alone  they  cared  to  live.  It  was  for  us  that  God  had 
reserved  the  blessing  of  seeing  thy  lovely  rising,  O 
thou  fair  Morning  Star  !  which  sheddest  thy  blessed 
rays  on  the  sea,  and  bringest  calm  after  the  long 
stormy  night !  Oh  !  prepare  our  eyes  that  they  may 
behold  the  divine  Sun  which  will  soon  follow  in  thy 
path,  and  give  to  the  world  his  reign  of  light  and 
day.  Prepare  our  hearts,  for  it  is  to  our  hearts  that 
this  Jesus  of  thine  wishes  to  show  himself.  To  see 
him,  our  hearts  must  be  pure  ;  purify  them,  thou  O 
Immaculate  Mother !  The  divine  wisdom  has  willed 
that  of  the  feasts  which  the  Church  dedicates  to 
thee,  this  of  thy  Immaculate  Conception  should  be 
celebrated  during  Advent ;  that  thus  the  children  of 
the  Church,  reflecting  on  the  jealous  care  wherewith 
God  preserved  thee  from  every  stain  of  sin,  because 
thou  wast  to  be  the  Mother  of  his  divine  Son, — 
might  prepare  to  receive  this  same  Jesus  by  the 
most  perfect  renouncing  of  every  sin  and  every 
attachment  to  sin.  This  great  change  must  be  made ; 
and  thy  prayers,  O  Mary !  will  help  us  to  make  it. 
Pray,  we  ask  it  of  thee  by  the  grace  God  gave  thee 
in  thy  Immaculate  Conception,  that  our  covetousness 
may  be  destroyed,  our  concupiscence  extinguished, 
and  our  pride  turned  into  humility.  Despise  not  our 
prayers,  dear  Mother  of  that  Jesus  who  chose  thee 
for  his  dwelling-place,  that  he  might  afterwards  find 
one  in  each  of  us. 


406  ADVENT. 

O  Mary !  Ark  of  the  Covenant,  built  of  an  incor- 
ruptible wood,  and  covered  over  with  the  purest  gold  ! 
help  us  to  correspond  with  those  wonderful  designs 
of  our  God,  who,  after  havirjg  found  his  glory  in  thy 
incomparable  purity,  wills  now  to  seek  his  glory  in 
our  unworthiness,  by  making  us,  from  being  slaves 
of  the  devil,  his  temples  and  his  abode,  where  he 
may  find  his  delight.  Help  us  to  this,  O  thou  that 
by  the  mercy  of  thy  Son  hast  never  known  sin !  and 
receive  this  day  our  devoutest  praise.  Thou  art  the 
Ark  of  Salvation ;  the  one  creature  unwrecked  in  the 
universal  deluge ;  the  white  Fleece  filled  with  the 
dew  of  heaven,  whilst  the  earth  around  is  parched ; 
the  Flame  which  the  many  waters  could  not  quench ; 
the  Lily  blooming  amidst  thorns ;  the  Garden  shut 
against  the  infernal  serpent;  the  Fountain  sealed, 
whose  limpid  water  was  never  ruffled ;  the  House  of 
the  Lord,  whereon  his  eyes  were  ever  fixed,  and  into 
which  nothing  defiled  could  ever  enter ;  the  mystic 
City,  of  which  such  glorious  things  are  said.1  We 
delight  in  telling  all  thy  glorious  titles,  O  Mary !  for 
thou  art  our  Mother,  and  we  love  thee,  and  the 
Mother's  glory  is  the  glory  of  her  children.  Cease 
not  to  bless  and  protect  all  them  that  honour  thy 
immense  privilege,  0  thou  that  wast  conceived  on 
this  day  !  May  this  feast  fit  us  for  that  mystery,  for 
which  thy  Conception,  thy  Birth,  and  thy  Annuncia- 
tion, are  all  preparations, — the  Birth  of  thy  Jesus  in 
Bethlehem  :  yea,  dear  Mother,  we  desire  thy  Jesus, — 
give  him  to  us  and  satisfy  the  longings  of  our  love. 


FIRST  VESPERS. 

The  five  Psalms  which  are  chanted  by  the  Church 
in  this  Office,  are  the  ones  which  she  always  employs 
on  the  feasts  of  our  Lady. 

1  Ps.  lxxxvi.  3. 


DEC.    8.      THE   IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION.        407 


The  first  celebrates  the  Royalty,  the  Priesthood, 
and  the  supreme  Judge- ship  of  Christ,  the  Son  of 
God  and  the  Son  of  Mary ;  it  implies,  therefore,  the 
great  dignity,  and  the  incomparable  purity  of  Her 
that  was  to  give  him  birth. 


Antiphon.  Thou  art  all 
fair,  0  Mary,  and  the  stain 
original  is  not  in  thee. 


Antiphona.  Tota  pulchra 
es,  Maria,  et  macula  origi- 
nalis  non  est  in  te. 


PSALM   109. 


The  Lord  said  to  my  Lord, 
his  Son :  Sit  thou  at  my  right 
hand,  and  reign  with  me. 

Until  I  make  thy  enemies 
thy  footstool. 

0  Christ !  the  Lord,  thy 
Father,  will  send  forth  the 
sceptre  of  thy  power  out  of 
Sion  :  from  thence  rule  thou 
in  the  midst  of  thy  enemies. 

With  thee  is  the  princi- 
pality in  the  day  of  thy 
strength,  in  the  brightness  of 
the  saints  :  for  the  Father 
hath  said  to  thee  :  From  the 
womb  before  the  day-star  I 
begot  thee. 

The  Lord  hath  sworn,  and 
he  will  not  repent :  he  hath 
said,  speaking  of  thee,  the 
God-Man  :  Thou  art  a  Priest 
for  ever,  according  to  the 
order  of  Melchisedech. 

Therefore,  0  Father,  the 
Lord  thy  Son  is  at  thy  right 
hand  :  he  hath  broken  kings 
in  the  day  of  his  wrath. 

He  shall  also  judge  among 
nations ;  in  that  terrible 
coming,  he  shall  fill  the  ruins 
of  the  world ;  he  shall  crush 
the  heads  in  the  land  of 
many. 


Dixit  Dominus  Domino 
meo  :  *  Sede  a  dextris  meis. 

Donee  ponam  inimicos 
tuos  :  *  scabellum  pedum 
tuorum. 

Virgam  virtutis  tuse  emit- 
tet  Dominus  ex  Sion  :  *  do- 
minare  in  medio  inimicorum 
tuorum. 

Tecum  principium  in  die 
virtutis  tuae,  in  splendoribus 
sanctorum  :  *  Ex  utero  ante 
luciferum  genui  te. 


Juravit  Dominus,  et  non 
pcenitebit  eurn  :  *  Tu  es  Sa- 
cerdos  in  aeternum  secun- 
dum ordinem  Melchisedech. 


Dominus  a  dextris  tuis  :  * 
confregit    in    die    irse    suae 

reges. 

Judicabit    in    nationibus, 
implebit  ruinas  :  *  conquas 


sabit  capita  in 
torum. 


terra    mul- 


408 


-ADVENT. 


De  torrente  in  via  bibet 
propterea  exaltabit  caput. 


Ant.  Tota  pulchra  es,  Ma- 
ria, et  macula  originalis  non 
est  in  te. 

Ant.  Vestimentum  tuum 
candidum  quasi  nix,  et  facies 
tua  sicut  sol. 


He  cometh  now  in  humi- 
lity ;  he  shall  drink  in  the 
way  of  the  torrent  of  suf- 
ferings ;  therefore  shall  he 
lift  up  the  head. 

Ant.  Thou  art  all  fair,  O 
Mary,  and  the  stain  original 
is  not  in  thee. 

Ant.  Thy  garment  is  white 
as  snow,  and  thy  face  is  as 
the  sun. 


The  second  Psalm  celebrates  the  greatness  of  God, 
yet  shows  him  to  us  as  looking  down  with  com- 
placency on  the  humble  of  heart.  It  was  the  hu- 
mility of  Mary  which  made  him  choose  her  for  his 
own  Mother,  and  crown  her  as  the  Queen  of  the 
universe.  She  ever  remained  a  pure  Virgin,  and  yet 
our  Lord  made  her  to  be  Mother  of  all  mankind. 


PSALM   112. 


Laudate,  pueri,  Domi- 
num  :  *  laudate  Women  Do- 
mini. 

Sit  Nomen  Domini  bene- 
dictum  :  *  ex  hoc  nunc  et 
usque  in  saBculum. 

A  solis  ortu  usque  ad  oc- 
casum  :  *  laudabile  Nomen 
Domini. 

Excelsus  super  omnes 
gentes  Dominus  :  *  et  super 
coelos  gloria  ejus. 

Quis  sicut  Dominus  Deus 
noster  qui  in  altis  habitat :  * 
et  humilia  respicit  in  ccelo  et 
in  terra  1 

Suscitans  a  terra  inopem  : 
*  et  de  stercore  erigens  pau- 
perem. 

Ut  collocet  eum  cum  prin- 


Praise  the  Lord,  ye  chil- 
dren ;  praise  ye  the  Name  of 
the  Lord. 

Blessed  be  the  Name  of  the 
Lord,  from  henceforth  now 
and  for  ever. 

From  the  rising  of  the  sun 
unto  the  going  down  of  the 
same,  the  Name  of  the  Lord 
is  worthy  of  praise. 

The  Lord  is  high  above  all 
nations  :  and  his  glory  above 
the  heavens. 

Who  is  as  the  Lord  our 
God,  who  dwelleth  on  high  : 
and  looketh  down  on  the  low 
things  in  heaven  and  on 
earth  % 

Raising  up  the  needy  from 
the  earth,  and  lifting  up  the 
poor  out  of  the  dunghill. 

That   he    may  place  him 


DEC.   8.      THE  IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION.      409 


with  princes,  with  the  princes 
of  his  people. 

Who  maketh  a  barren  wo- 
man to  dwell  in  a  house,  the 
joyful  mother  of  children. 

Ant.  Thy  garment  is  white 
as  snow,  and  thy  face  is  as 
the  sun. 

Ant.  Thou  art  the  glory  of 
Jerusalem,  thou  art  the  joy 
of  Israel,  thou  art  the  honour 
of  our  people. 


cipibus  :  *  cum  principibus 
populi  sui. 

Qui  habitare  facit  sterilem 
in  domo  :  *  matrem  filiorum 
lsetantem. 

Ant.  Vestimentum  tuum 
candidum  quasi  nix,  et  f  acies 
tua  sicut  sol. 

Ant.  Tu  gloria  Jerusalem, 
tu  Isetitia  Israel,  tu  honorih- 
centia  populi  nostri. 


The  third  Psalm  sings  the  glory  of  Jerusalem,  the 
City  of  God.  Mary,  who  was  the  dwelling  which  the 
Most  High  had  chosen  for  himself,  was  signified  by 
this  blessed  City.  It  is  in  her,  in  the  admiration 
which  her  dignity  excites,  and  in  the  confidence 
which  her  exhaustless  love  inspires,  that  the  chil- 
dren of  the  Church  are  now  assembled.  The  Church 
herself  is  also  the  city  of  God. 

PSALM   121. 


I  rejoiced  at  the  things 
that  were  said  to  me  :  We 
shall  go  into  the  house  of  the 
Lord. 

Our  feet  were  standing  in 
thy  courts,  O  Jerusalem  ! 
Our  heart  loves  and  confides 
in  thee,  0  Mary. 

Mary  is  like  to  Jerusalem 
that  is  built  as  a  City ;  which 
is  compact  together. 

For  thither  did  the  tribes 
go  up,  the  tribes  of  the  Lord  : 
the  testimony  of  Israel,  to 
praise  the  Name  of  the  Lord. 

Because  seats  sat  there  in 
judgment  ;  seats  upon  the 
house  of  David  ;  and  Mary 
is  of  a  kingly  race. 


Lsetatus  sum  in  his  quae 
dicta  sunt  mihi :  *  In  do- 
mum  Domini  ibimus. 

Stantes  erant  pedes  nostri : 
*  in  atriis  tuis  Jerusalem. 


Jerusalem  quae  sedificatur 
ut  civitas:  *  cujus  partici- 
pate ejus  in  idipsum. 

Illuc  enim  ascenderunt 
tribus,  tribus  Domini  :  *  tes- 
timonium Israel  ad  confiten- 
dum  Nomini  Domini. 

Quia  illic  sederunt  sedes 
in  judicio  :  *  sedes  super 
domum  David. 


410 


ADVENT. 


Rogate  quae  ad  pacem  sunt 
Jerusalem  :  *  et  abundantia 
diligentibus  te. 


Fiat  pax  in  virtute  tua  : 
*  et  abundantia  in  turribus 
tuis. 

Propter  fratres  meos  et 
proximos  meos  :  *  loquebar 
pacem  de  te. 

Propter  domum  Domini 
Dei  nostri  :  *  quaesivi  bona 
tibi. 

Ant.  Tu  gloria  Jerusalem, 
tu  laetitia  Israel,  tu  honorifi- 
centia  populi  nostri. 

Ant.  Benedicta  es  tu, 
Virgo  Maria,  a  Domino  Deo 
excelso,  prse  omnibus  muli- 
eribus  super  terram. 


Pray  ye,  through  Mary,  for 
the  things  that  are  for  the 
peace  of  Jerusalem  :  and 
may  abundance  be  on  them 
that  love  thee,  0  Church  of 
our  God  ! 

The  voice  of  Mary :  Let 
peace  be  in  thy  strength,  0 
thou  new  Sion  !  and  abun- 
dance in  thy  towers. 

I,  a  daughter  of  Israel,  for 
the  sake  of  my  brethren  and 
of  my  neighbours,  spoke 
peace  of  thee. 

Because  of  the  house  of 
the  Lord  our  God,  I  have 
sought  good  things  for  thee. 

Ant.  Thou  art  the  glory 
of  Jerusalem,  thou  art  the 
joy  of  Israel,  thou  art  the 
honour  of  our  people. 

Ant.  Blessed  art  thou,  O 
Virgin  Mary,  by  the  Lord 
the  most  high  God,  above  all 
women  upon  the  earth. 


The  following  Psalm  is  inserted  in  the  Office  of 
our  Lady,  on  account  of  the  allusion  made  in  it  to  a 
House  which  God  himself  has  built,  and  to  a  City  of 
which  he  is  the  guardian.  Mary  is  this  House, 
which  God  built  for  himself;  she  is  this  City,  which 
he  has  protected  from  every  insult  and  attack. 


PSALM  126. 


Nisi  Dominus  sedificaverit 
domum  :  *  in  vanum  labora- 
verunt  qui  aedificant  earn. 

Nisi  Dominus  custodierit 
civitatem  :  *  frustra  vigilat 
qui  custodit  earn. 

Vanum  est  vobis  ante  lu- 
cem  surgere  :  *  surgite  post 
quam  sederitis,  qui  mandu- 
catis  panem  doloris. 


Unless  the  Lord  build  the 
House,  they  labour  in  vain 
that  build  it. 

Unless  the  Lord  keep  the 
City,  he  watcheth  in  vain 
that  keepeth  it. 

It  is  vain  for  you  to  rise 
before  light  ;  rise  ye  after 
you  have  sitten,  you  that  eat 
of  the  bread  of  sorrow. 


DEC.    8.      THE  IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION.        411 


When  he  shall  give  sleep 
to  his  beloved  :  behold  the 
inheritance  of  the  Lord  are 
children  ;  the  reward,  the 
fruit  of  the  womb. 

As  arrows  in  the  hand  of 
the  mighty,  so  the  children 
of  them  that  have  been 
shaken. 

Blessed  is  the  man  that 
hath  filled  his  desire  with 
them  ;  he  shall  not  be  con- 
founded when  he  shall  speak 
to  his  enemies  in  the  gate. 

Ant.  Blessed  art  thou,  O 
Virgin  Mary,  by  the  Lord 
the  most  high  God,  above  all 
women  upon  the  earth. 

Ant.  Draw  us,  O  Imma- 
culate Virgin  !  we  will  run 
after  thee  to  the  odour  of  thy 
ointments. 


Cum  dederit  dilectis  suis 


somnum 
Domini,  filii  : 
tus  ventris. 


ecce  hsereditas 
merces,  fruc- 


Sicut  sagittae  in  manu  po- 
tentis :  *  ita  filii  excussorum. 


Beatus  vir,  qui  implevit 
desiderium  suum  ex  ipsis  : 
*  non  confundetur  cum  lo- 
quetur  inimicis  suis  in  porta. 

Ant.  Benedicta  et  tu, 
Virgo  Maria,  a  Domino  Deo 
excelso,  prae  omnibus  muli- 
eribus  super  terram. 

Ant.  Trahe  nos,  Virgo  im- 
maculata  :  post  te  curremus 
in  odorem  unguentorum  tuo- 


Again,  it  is  Mary,  the  mystic  City  of  God,  that  the 
Church  has  in  view  when  she  sings,  on  these  feasts, 
the  following  beautiful  Psalm.  On  this  day  of  her 
Conception,  our  Lord  strengthened  the  gates  of  his 
beloved  City;  the  enemy  could  not  enter.  God 
owed  this  defence  to  Her,  by  whom  he  intended  to 
send  his  Word  upon  the  earth. 


PSALM    147. 


Praise  the  Lord,  0  Mary, 
thou  true  Jerusalem  :  0 
Mary,  O  Sion  ever  holy, 
praise  thy  God. 

Because  he  hath  strength- 
ened against  sin  the  bolts 
of  thy  gates  :  he  hath 
blessed  thy  children  within 
thee. 

Who  hath  placed  peace  in 


Lauda,  Jerusalem,  Donii- 
num  :  *  lauda  Deum  tuum, 
Sion. 

Quoniam  confortavit  seras 
portarum  tuarum  :  *  bene- 
dixit  filiis  tuis  in  te. 


Qui  posuit  fines  tuos  pa- 


412 


ADVENT. 


cem,    *    et   adipe    frumenti 
satiat  te. 


Qui  emittit  eloquium  suum 
terrse :  *  velociter  currite  ser- 
mo  ejus. 

Qui  dat  nivem  sicut  la- 
nam  :  *  nebulam  sicut  cine- 
rem  spargit. 

Mittit  crystallum  suam 
sicut  buccellas  :  *  ante  fa- 
ciem  frigoris  ejus  quis  sus- 
tinebit  ? 

Emittet  verbum  suum,  et 
liquefaciet  ea  :  *  flabit  spiri- 
tus  ejus,  et  fluent  aquas. 


Qui  annuntiat  verbum 
suum  Jacob  :  *  justitias,  et 
judicia  sua  Israel. 

Non  fecit  taliter  omni 
nationi :  *  et  judicia  sua  non 
manifestavit  eis. 

Ant.  Trahe  nos,  Virgo 
immaculata  :  post  te  curre- 
mus  in  odorem  unguentorum 
tuorum. 

The  Capitulum  is  a  passage  from  the  Book  of 
Proverbs  of  Solomon,  in  which  Divine  Wisdom,  the 
Son  of  God,  publishes  the  eternity  of  the  divine 
decree  of  the  Incarnation.  The  Church,  on  this  day, 
puts  these  same  in  the  mouth  of  Mary,  inasmuch  as 
this  privileged  creature  was  also  decreed,  before  all 
time,  to  be  the  Mother  of  the  Man-God. 


thy  borders,  and  fiHeth  thee 
with  the  fat  of  corn,  with 
Jesus,  who  is  the  Bread  of 
life. 

m  Who  sendeth  forth  by  thee 
his  Word  to  the  earth ;  his 
Word  runneth  swiftly. 

Who  giveth  snow  like 
wool ;  scattereth  mists  like 
ashes. 

_  He  sendeth  his  crystal 
like  morsels  :  who  shall 
stand  before  the  face  of  his 
cold? 

He  shall  send  forth  his 
Word  by  Mary,  and  shall 
melt  them  :  his  spirit  shall 
breathe,  and  the  waters  shall 
run. 

Who  declareth  his  Word 
to  Jacob  :  his  justices  and 
his  judgments  to  Israel. 

He  hath  not  done  in  like 
manner  to  every  nation  ;  and 
his  judgments  he  hath  not 
made  manifest  to  them. 

Ant.  Draw  us,  O  Imma- 
culate Virgin  !  we  will  run 
after  thee  to  the  odour  of  thy 
ointments. 


CAPITULUM. 


{Prov.  viii.) 

Dominus   possedit  me  in        The  Lord  possessed  me  in 

the  beginning  of  his  ways, 
before  he  made  anything 
from  the  beginning :  I  was 


initio  viarum  suarum,  ante- 
quam  quidquam  facerit  a 
principio :   ab  seterno  ordi- 


DEC.   8.      THE  IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION.      413 


set  up  from  eternity,  and  of 
old  before  the  earth,  was 
made :  the  depths  were  not 
as  yet,  and  I  was  already 
conceived. 


nata  sum,  et  ex  antiquis 
antequam  terra  fieret  :  non- 
dum  erant  abyssi,  et  ego  jam 
concepta  eram. 


The  Hymn  is  that  venerable  song  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  which  is  chanted  on  all  the  Feasts  of  our 
Lady.  There  is  no  heart  can  resist  the  confidence 
and  love  which  this  canticle  inspires.  How  often 
soever  repeated,  it  seems  ever  fresh.  The  Nun  in 
her  peaceful  cloister,  and  the  Mariner  in  the  hour  of 
storm,  both  love  their  Ave  Maris  Stella. 


HYMN/ 


Hail,  Star  of  the  Sea ! 
Blessed  Mother  of  God,  yet 
ever  a  Virgin  !  0  happy  gate 
of  heaven  ! 

Thou  that  didst  receive  the 
Ave  from  Gabriel's  lips,  con- 
firm us  in  peace,  and  so  let 
Eva  be  changed  into  an  Ave 
of  blessing  for  us. 

Loose  the  sinner's  chains, 
bring  light  to  the  blind,  drive 
from  us  our  evils,  and  ask  all 
good  things  for  us. 

Show  thyself  a  Mother, 
and  offer  our  prayers  to  Him, 
who  would  be  born  of  thee, 
when  born  for  us. 

O  incomparable  Virgin, 
and  meekest  of  the  meek,  ob- 
tain us  the  forgiveness  of  our 
sins,  and  make  us  meek  and 
chaste. 


Ave,  maris  stella  ! 
Dei  Mater  alma, 
At  que  semper  Virgo, 
Felix  cceli  porta. 

Sumens  illud  Ave 
Gabrielis  ore, 
Funda  nos  in  pace, 
Mutans  Evas  nomen. 

Solve  vincla  reis. 
Profer  lumen  cascis, 
Mala  nostra  pelle, 
Bona  cuncta  posce. 

Monstra  te  esse  Matrem 
Sumat  per  te  preces, 
Qui  pro  nobis  natus, 
Tulit  esse  tuus. 

Virgo  singularis, 
Inter  omnes  mitis, 
Nos  culpis  solutos 
Mites  fac  et  castos. 


*  In  Monastic  Churches,  it  is  preceded  by  this  Eesponsory  : — 

1$.  In  hoc  cognovi  *  Quoniam  voluisti  me.  In  hoc.  $". 
Quoniam  non  gaudebit  inimicus  meus  super  me.  *  Quo- 
niam.    Gloria.     In  hoc. 


414 


ADVENT. 


Vitam  prsesta  puram, 
Iter  para  tutum  ; 
Ut  videntes  Jesum, 
Semper  colla3temur. 

Sit  laus  Deo  Patri, 
Summo  Christo  decus, 
Spiritui  sancto, 
Tribus  honor  unus. 

Amen. 

$".  Immaculata  Conceptio 
est  hodie  sanctse  Maria?  Vir- 
ginis. 

I£.  Quae  serpentis  caput 
virgineo  pede  contrivit. 


Obtain  us  purity  of  life, 
and  a  safe  pilgrimage  ;  that 
we  may  be  united  with  thee 
in  the  blissful  vision  of  Jesus. 

Praise  be  to  God  the  Father, 
and  to  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  to 
the  Holy  Ghost :  to  the  Three 
one  self-same  praise. 

Amen. 

$".  To-day  is  the  Immacu- 
late Conception  of  the  Bles- 
sed Virgin  Mary. 

I£.  And  the  Virgin's  foot 
crushed  the  serpent's  head. 


ANTIPHON   OF   THE 


Magnificat 


Ant.  Beatam  me  dicent 
omnes  generationes,  quia  fecit 
mihi  magna  qui  potens  est, 
Alleluia. 


Ant.  All  generations  shall 
call  me  blessed,  because  he 
that  is  mighty  hath  done 
great  things  in  me,  Alleluia. 


PRAYER. 


Deus,  qui  per  immaculatam 
Virginis  Conceptionem,  dig- 
num  Filio  tuo  habitaculum 
praeparasti ;  quaesunius,  ut 
qui  ex  morte  ejusdem  Filii 
tui  praevisa,  earn  ab  omni 
labe  praeservasti,  nos  quoque 
mundos  ejus  intercessione  ad 
te  pervenire  concedas.  Per 
eumdem. 


O  God,  who  by  the  Imma- 
culate Conception  of  the  Vir- 
gin didst  prepare  a  worthy 
dwelling-place  for  thy  divine 
Son  ;  grant,  we  beseech  thee, 
that,  as  by  the  foreseen  merits 
of  the  death  of  this  thy  Son, 
thou  didst  preserve  her  from 
every  stain  of  sin,  we  also 
may,  through  her  intercession, 
be  cleansed  from  our  sins  and 
united  with  thee.  Through 
the  same,  &c 


A  commemoration  is  here  made  of  Advent,  by  the 
AntiphoD,  Versicle,  and  Prayer  of  the  day. 


DEC.   8.      THE  IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION.      415 


MASS. 

The  Introit  is  a  soDg  of  thanksgiving,  taken  from 
Isaias  and  the  Psalms.  Mary  extols  the  wonderful 
gifts  of  God  to  her,  and  the  victory  which  he  has 
granted  her  over  Satan  and  sin. 


INTROIT. 


I  will  rejoice  with  exceed- 
ing joy  in  the  Lord,  and  my 
sonl  shall  exult  in  my  God  : 
for  he  hath  clothed  me  with 
the  garments  of  salvation  ; 
and  with  the  robe  of  justice 
he  hath  covered  me,  as  a  bride 
adorned  with  her  jewels. 

Ps.  I  will  extol  thee,  O 
Lord,  for  thou  hast  upheld 
me  :  and  hast  not  made  my 
enemies  to  rejoice  over  me. 
Glory  be  to  the  Father,  dtc. 
I  will  rejoice,  &c. 


Gaudens  gaudebo  in  Do- 
mino, et  exsultabit  anima 
rnea  in  Deo  meo  :  quia  induit 
me  vestimentis  salutis ;  et 
indimiento  justitiae  circum- 
dedit  me,  quasi  sponsam  or- 
natam  monihbus  suis. 

Ps.  Exaltabo  te,  Domine, 
quoniam  suscepisti  me  :  nee 
delectasti  inimicos  meos  su- 
per me.  Gloria  Patri.  Gau- 
dens gaudebo. 


The  Collect  gives  us  the  moral  explanation  of  the 
mystery.  Mary  was  preserved  from  original  sin  be- 
cause she  was  to  be  the  dwelling-place  of  the  Most 
Holy  :  let  this  teach  us  to  beg  of  this  same  God,  that 
he  would  purify  our  souls. 


O  God,  who  by  the  Imma- 
culate Conception  of  the  Vir- 
gin didst  prepare  a  worthy 
dwelling-place  for  thy  divine 
Son  ;  grant,  we  beseech  thee, 
that,  as  by  the  foreseen  merits 
of  the  death  of  this  thy  Son, 
thou  didst  preserve  her  from 
every  stain  of  sin,  we  also 
may,  through  her  intercession, 
be  cleansed  from  our  sins  and 
united  with  thee.  Through 
the  same,  &c. 


E)eus,qui  per  immaculatam 
Virginis  Conceptionem  dig- 
num  Filio  tuo  habitaculum 
praeparasti  ;  quaesumus,  ut 
qui,  ex  morte  ejusdem  Filii 
tui  praevisa,  earn  ab  omni 
labe  praeservasti,  nos  (nioque 
mundos  ejus  intercessione  ad 
te  pervenire  concedas.  Per 
eumdem. 


416 


ADVENT. 


Here  is  made  a  commemoration  of  Advent,  by  the 
Collect  of  the  preceding  Sunday. 


EPISTLE. 


Lectio  libri  Sapientias. 

Prov.  Gap.  VIII. 
Dominus  possedit  me  in 
initio  viarum  suaruni,  ante- 
quam  quidquam  faceret  a 
principio.  Ab  seterno  ordi- 
nata  sum,  et  ex  antiquis,  an- 
tequam  terra  fieret.  Nondum 
erant  abyssi,  et  ego  jam  con- 
cepta  eram  :  necdum.  f ontes 
aquarum  eruperant ;  necdum 
montes  gravi  mole  constite- 
rant :  ante  colles  ego  partu- 
riebar  :  adhuc  terrain  non  f e- 
cerat,  et  flumina,  et  cardines 
orbis  terras.  Quando  prsepa- 
rabat  coelos,  aderam  :  quando 
certa  lege,  et  gyro  vallabat 
abyssos :  quando  aethera  fir- 
mabat  sursum,  et  librabat 
f  ontes  aquarum  _:  quando  cir- 
cumdabat  mari  terminum 
suum,  et  legem  ponebat  aquis, 
ne  transirent  fines  suos  : 
quando  appendebat  funda- 
menta  terras  :  cum  eo  eram 
cuncta  componens  :  et  delec- 
tabar  per  singulos^  dies,  lu- 
dens  coram  eo  omni  tempore, 
ludens  in  orbe  terrarum  :  et 
deliciae  meas,  esse  cum  filiis 
nominum.  Nunc  ergo,  filii, 
audite  me.  Beati  quicusto- 
diunt  vias  meas.  Audite  dis- 
ciplinam,  et  estote  sapientes, 
et  nolite  abjicere  earn.  Bea- 
tus  homo  qui  audit  me,  et  qui 
vigilat  ad  fores  meas  quotidie, 
et  observat  ad  postes  ostii  mei. 
Qui  me  invenerit,   inveniet 


Lesson  from  the  Book  of 
Wisdom. 

Prov.  Ch.  VIII. 
The  Lord  possessed  me  in 
the  beginning  of  his  ways, 
before  he  made  anything 
from  the  beginning.  I  was  set 
up  from  eternity,  and  of  old 
before  the  earth  was  made. 
The  depths  were  not  as  yet, 
and  I  was  already  conceived  : 
neither  had  the  fountains  of 
waters  as  yet  sprung  out ;  the 
mountains  with  their  huge 
bulk  had  not  as  yet  been  es- 
tablished :  before  the  hills  I 
was  brought  forth :  he  had 
not  yet  made  the  earth,  nor 
the  rivers,  nor  the  poles  of 
the  world.  When  he  pre- 
pared the  heavens,  I  was  pre- 
sent :  when  with  a  certain 
law  and  compass  he  enclosed 
the  depths  :  when  he  estab- 
lished the  sky  above,  and 
poised  the  fountains  of  wa- 
ters :  when  he  compassed  the 
sea  with  its  bounds  and  set  a 
law  to  the  waters,  that  they 
should  not  pass  their  limits  : 
when  he  balanced  the  founda- 
tions of  the  earth  :  I  was  with 
him  forming  all  things  :  and 
was  delighted  every  day,  play- 
ing before  him  at  all  times, 
playing  in  the  world  :  and  my 
delights  were  to  be  with  the 
children  of  men.  Now,  there- 
fore, ye  children,  hear  me. 
Blessed  are  they  that  keep 
my  ways.    Hear  instruction 


DEC.   8.      THE  IMMACULATE    CONCEPTION.       417 

and  be  wise5>  and  refuse  it    vitam;   et  hauriet  salutem  a 

not.    Blessed  is  the  man  that    Domino. 

heareth  me,  and  that  watch- 

eth   daily    at  my  gates,  and 

waiteth  at  the  posts  of  my 

doors.     He  that    shall    find 

me,  shall  find  life,  and  shall 

have  salvation  from  the  Lord. 

The  Apostle  teaches  us  that  Jesus,  our  Emmanuel, 
is  the  first  bom  of  every  creature}  These  mysterious 
words  signify  not  only  that  he  is,  as  God,  eternally 
begotten  of  the  Father ;  but  also  that  the  Divine 
Word  is,  as  Man,  anterior  to  all  created  beings.  Yet, 
how  is  this?  the  world  had  been  created,  and  the 
human  race  had  dwelt  on  this  earth  full  four  thousand 
years,  before  the  Son  of  God  took  to  himself  the  na- 
ture of  man.  We  answer,  that  it  is  not  in  the  order 
of  time,  but  in  the  eternal  intention  of  God,  that  the 
Man-God  preceded  every  creature.  The  Eternal  Fa- 
ther decreed  first  to  give  to  his  Eternal  Son  a  created 
nature,  namely,  the  nature  of  man,  and,  in  conse- 
quence of  this  decree,  to  create  all  beings,  whether 
spiritual  or  material,  as  a  kingdom  for  this  Man-God. 
This  explains  to  us  how  it  is,  that  the  divine  Wisdom, 
the  Son  of  God,  in  the  passage  of  the  sacred  Scripture 
which  forms  the  Epistle  of  this  Feast,  proclaims  his 
having  existed  before  all  the  creatures  of  the  universe. 
As  God,  he  was  begotten  from  all  eternity  in  the 
bosom  of  the  Father  ;  as  Man,  he  was,  in  the  mind  of 
God,  the  type  of  all  creatures,  before  those  creatures 
were  made.  But  the  Son  of  God  could  not  be  of  our 
race,  as  the  divine  will  decreed  he  should  be,  unless 
he  were  born  in  time,  and  born  of  a  Mother  as  other 
men ;  and  therefore  She  that  was  to  be  his  Mother 
was  eternally  present  to  the  thought  of  God,  as  the 
means  whereby  the  Word  would  assume  the  human 
nature.    The  Son  and  the  Mother  are  therefore  united 


1  Coloss.  i.  15. 

2  E 


418         "  ADVENT. 

in  the  plan  of  the  Incarnation  :  Mary,  therefore, 
existed,  as  did  Jesus,  in  the  divine  decree,  before  cre- 
ation began.  This  is  the  reason  of  the  Church's  hav- 
ing, from  the  earliest  ages  of  Christianity,  interpreted 
this  sublime  passage  of  the  sacred  volume  of  Jesus 
and  of  Mary  unitedly,  and  ordering  it  and  analogous 
passages  of  the  Scriptures  to  be  read  in  the  assembly 
of  the  faithful  on  the  solemnities  or  feasts  of  the 
Mother  of  God.  But  if  Mary  be  thus  prominent  in 
the  divine  and  eternal  plan  ;  if,  in  the  sense  in  which 
these  mysterious  texts  are  understood  by  the  Church, 
she  was,  with  Jesus,  before  every  creature  ;  could  God 
permit  her  to  be  subjected  to  the  original  sin,  which 
was  to  fall  on  all  the  children  of  Adam  ?  She  is,  it 
is  true,  to  be  a  child  of  Adam  like  her  divine  Son 
himself,  and  to  be  born  at  the  time  fixed ;  but  God's 
grace  shall  turn  away  from  her  that  torrent,  which 
sweeps  all  mankind  along ;  it  shall  not  come  near  to 
her,  and  she  shall  transmit  to  her  Son,  who  was  also 
the  Son  of  God,  the  human  nature  in  its  original  per- 
fection, created,  as  the  Apostle  says,  in  holiness  and 
justice.1 

The  Gradual  is  the  application  to  the  Immaculate 
Mother  of  God  of  those  praises  with  which  the 
ancients  of  Bethulia  greeted  Judith,  after  she  had 
slain  the  enemy  of  God's  people.  Judith  is  one  of 
the  types  of  Mary,  who  crushed  the  head  of  the 
serpent. 

The  alleluia  verse  applies  to  our  Blessed  Lady 
those  words  of  the  divine  Canticle,  which  proclaim 
the  Spouse  of  God  to  be  all  fair  and  spotless. 

GRADUAL. 

Benedicta    es     tu,    Virgo  Blessed  art  thou,  O  Virgin 

Maria,  a  Domino  Deo  excelso  Mary,  by  the  Lord  the  most 

prse  omnibus  nmlieribus  su-  high  God,  above  all  women 

per  terrain.  upon  the  earth. 

1  Eph.  iv.  24. 


DEC.    8.      THE   IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION.      419 


"ft.  Thou  art  the  glory  of 
Jerusalem,  thou  art  the  joy 
of  Israel,  thou  art  the  honour 
of  our  people. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

f.  Thou  art  all  fair,  O 
Mary,  and  the  stain  original 
is  not  in  thee.     Alleluia. 


~ff.  Tu  gloria  Jerusalem,  tu 
lsetitia  Israel,  tu  honorificen- 
tia  populi  nostri. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

$".  Tota  pulchra  es,  Maria, 
et  macula  originalis  non  est 
in  te.     Alleluia. 


GOSPEL. 


The  following  from  the  holy 
Gospel  according  to  Luke. 

Cfo  I. 

At  that  time  the  Angel 
Gabriel  was  sent  from  God 
into  a  city  of  Galilee,  called 
Nazareth,  to  a  Virgin  es- 
poused to  a  man  whose  name 
was  Joseph,  of  the  house  of 
David  :  and  the  Virgin's 
name  was  Mary.  And  the 
Angel  being  come  in,  said 
unto  her  :  Hail,  full  of  grace ; 
the  Lord  is  with  thee : 
blessed    art     thou     among 


Sequentia    sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Lucam. 

Cap,  1. 

In  illo  tempore :  Missus  est 
Angelus  Gabriel  a  Deo  in 
civitatem  Galilseas,  cui  nomen 
Nazareth,  ad  Virginem  des- 
ponsatam  viro,  cui  nomen 
erat  Joseph,  de  domo  David  : 
et  nomen  Virginis,  Maria. 
Et  ingressus  Angelus  ad  earn, 
dixit  :  Ave,  gratia  plena ; 
Dominus  tecum  :  benedicta 
tu  in  mulieribus. 


This  is  the  salutation  with  which  the  Archangel 
greets  Mary.  It  shows  us  what  was  his  admiration 
and  hisprofound  veneration  for  the  Virgin  of  Nazareth. 
The  holy  Gospel  tells  us  that  Mary  was  troubled  at 
these  words,  and  thought  within  herself  what  such  a 
salutation  as  this  could  imply.  The  Sacred  Scrip- 
tures record  many  Angelical  salutations  :  but,  as  St. 
Ambrose,  St.  Andrew  of  Crete,  and,  before  them, 
Origen,  had  remarked,  there  is  not  one  which  con- 
tains such  praises  as  this  does.  The  prudent  Virgin 
was,  therefore,  naturally  surprised  at  the  extraordinary 
words  of  the  Angel,  and,  as  the  early  Fathers  observe, 
they  would  remind  her  of  that  other  interview  be- 
tween Eve  and  the  serpent.    She  therefore  remained 


420  ADVENT. 

silent,  and  it  was  only  after  the  Archangel  had  spoken 
to  her  a  second  time,  that  she  made  him  a  reply. 

And  yet,  Gabriel  had  spoken  not  only  with  all  the 
eloquence,  but  with  all  the  profound  wisdom  of  a 
celestial  Spirit  initiated  into  the  divine  mysteries ; 
and,  in  his  own  superhuman  language,  he  announced 
that  the  moment  had  come  when  Eve  was  to  be 
transformed  into  Mary.  There  was  present  before 
him  a  woman  destined  for  the  sublimest  dignity,  the 
woman  that  was  to  be  the  Mother  of  God;  yet,  up 
to  this  solemn  moment,  Mary  was  but  a  daughter  of 
the  human  race.  Think,  then,  taking  Gabriel's  words 
as  your  guide,  what  must  have  been  the  holiness  of 
Mary  in  this  her  first  estate :  is  it  not  evident,  that 
the  prophecy,  made  in  the  earthly  paradise,  had 
already  been  accomplished  in  Her  ? 

The  Archangel  proclaims  her  Full  of  Grace. 
What  means  this,  but  that  the  second  Woman 
possesses  in  herself  that  element  of  which  sin  had 
deprived  the  first  ?  And  observe,  he  does  not  say 
merely  that  divine  grace  works  in  her,  but  that  she 
is  full  of  it.  "She  is  not  merely  in  grace  as  others 
"■  are,"  as  Saint  Peter  Chrysologus  told  us  on  his 
feast,  "but  she  is  filled  with  it."  Everything  in 
Her  is  resplendent  with  heavenly  purity,  and  sin  has 
never  cast  its  shadow  on  her  beauty.  To  appreciate 
the  full  import  of  Gabriel's  expression,  we  must  con- 
sider what  is  the  force  of  the  words  in  the  language 
which  the  sacred  historian  used.  Grammarians  tell 
us,  that  the  single  word  which  he  employs  is  much 
more  comprehensive  than  our  expression  "  full  of 
"  grace."  It  implies  not  only  the  present  time,  but 
the  past  as  well, — an  incorporation  of  grace  from  the 
very  commencement, — the  full  and  complete  affirma- 
tion of  grace, — the  total  permanence  of  grace.  Our 
translation  has  unavoidably  weakened  the  term. 

The  better  to  feel  the  full  force  of  our  translation, 
let  us  compare  this  with  an  analogous  text  from  the 


DEC.  8.      THE  IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION.        421 

Gospel  of  St.  John.  This  Evangelist,  speaking  of 
the  Humanity  of  the  Incarnate  Word,  expresses  all 
by  saying,  that  Jesus  is  full  of  grace  and  truth.1 
Now,  would  this  fulness  have  been  real,  had  sin  ever 
been  there,  instead  of  grace,  even  for  a  single  iustant  ? 
Could  we  call  him  full  of  grace,  who  had  once  stood 
in  need  of  being  cleansed  ?  Undoubtedly,  we  must 
ever  respectfully  bear  in  mind  the  distance  between 
the  Humanity  of  the  Incarnate  Word  and  the  person 
of  Mary,  from  whose  womb  the  Son  of  God  assumed 
that  Humanity ;  but  the  sacred  text  obliges  us  to 
confess,  that  the fulness  of  grace  was,  proportionately, 
in  both  Jesus  and  Mary. 

Gabriel  goes  on  still  enumerating  the  supernatural 
riches  of  Mary.  He  says  to  her :  "  the  Lord  is  with 
|;  thee."  What  means  this  1  It  means,  that  even 
before  Mary  had  conceived  our  Lord  in  her  chaste 
womb,  she  already  possessed  him  in  her  soul.  But, 
would  the  words  be  true,  if  that  union  with  God  had 
once  not  been,  and  had  only  begun  when  her  dis- 
union with  him  by  sin  had  been  removed  %  The 
solemn  occasion,  on  which  the  Angel  uses  this  lan- 
guage, forbids  us  to  think  that  he  conveyed  by  it  any 
other  idea,  than  that  she  had  always  had  the  Lord 
with  her.  We  feel  the  allusion  to  a  contrast  between 
the  First  and  the  Second  Eve;  the  First  lost  the  God 
who  had  once  been  with  her ;  the  Second  had,  like 
the  First,  received  our  Lord  into  her  from  the  first 
moment  of  her  existence,  and  never  lost  him,  but 
continued  from  first  to  last  and  for  ever  to  have  him 
with  her. 

Let  us  listen  once  more  to  the  salutation,  and  we 
shall  find  from  its  last  words  that  Gabriel  is  an- 
nouncing the  fulfilment  of  the  divine  oracle,  and  is 
addressing  Mary  as  the  woman  foretold  to  be  the 
instrument  of  the  victory  over  Satan.     "  Blessed  art 

1  St.  John,  i.  14. 


422  ADVENT. 

"  thou  among  women."  For  four  thousand  years,  every 
woman  has  been  under  the  curse  of  God,  and  has 
brought  forth  her  children  in  suffering  and  sorrow  : 
but  here  is  the  one  among  women,  that  has  been 
ever  blessed  of  God,  that  has  ever  been  the  enemy  of 
the  serpent,  and  that  shall  bring  forth  the  fruit  of  her 
womb  without  travail. 

The  Immaculate  Conception  of  Mary  is  therefore 
declared  in  the  Archangel's  salutation  ;  and  we  can 
now  understand,  why  the  Church  selected  this  portion 
of  the  Gospel  to  be  read  to-day  in  the  assembly  of 
the  faithful. 

After  the  glorious  chant  of  the  Symbol  of  our 
Faith,  the  Choir  intones  the  Offertory :  it  is  composed 
of  the  words  of  the  Angelical  Salutation.  Let  us 
say  to  Mary,  with  Gabriel :  Verily,  O  Mary,  thou  art 
full  of  all  grace. 

OFFERTORY. 

Ave,  Maria,  gratia  plena  :  Hail  Mary,  full  of  grace  : 
Dominus  tecum,  benedicta  tu  the  Lord  is  with  thee : 
in  mulieribus.     Alleluia.  blessed  art  thou  among  wo- 

men.    Alleluia. 

SECRET. 

Salutarem  hostiam,  quam  Receive,  0  Lord,  this  host 

in    solemnitate   immaculatse  of  salvation,  which  we  offer 

Conceptions  beatse  Virginis  unto  thee  on  this  solemnity 

Marise  tibi,  Domine,   offeri-  of  the  Immaculate  Concep- 

mus,   suscipe  et  prsesta  :  nt  tion   of  the   blessed  Virgin 

sicut  illam,  tua  gratia  pras-  Mary ;  and  grant,  that,  as  we 

veniente,  ab   omni  labe  im-  confess  her  to  have  been  x>re- 

munem  profitemur :  ita  ejus  served,    by    thy    preventing 

intercessione  a  culpis  omni-  grace,   from    every   stain   of 

bus  liberemur.  Per  Christum  sin,  we  may,  by  her  interces- 

Dominum  nostrum.     Amen,  sion,   be  freed  from  all  our 

sins.      Through    Christ  our 
Lord.     Amen. 

A  commemoration  is  here  made  of  Advent,  by  the 
Secret  of  the  preceding  Sunday. 


DEC.    8.      THE   IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION.      423 


PKEFACE. 

The  Church  is  too  full  of  the  joy  of  this  great 
feast  to  be  satisfied  with  her  usual  form  of  Thanks- 
giving ;  she  employs  one  which  makes  mention  of 
the  Holy  Mother  of  God,  whose  Conception  revives 
her  hopes,  and  announces  the  rising  of  Him  who 
is  the  Eternal  Light. 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 
right  and  available  to  salva- 
tion, that  we  should  always, 
and  jn  all  places,  give  thanks 
to  thee,  0  holy  Lord,  Father 
almighty,  eternal  God  :  And 
that  we  should  praise,  bless, 
and  glorify  thee  on  the  Im- 
maculate Conception  of  the 
Blessed  Mary,  ever  a  Virgin, 
who  by  the  overshadowing  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  conceived 
thine  Only  Begotten  Son, 
and,  the  glory  of  her  virginity 
still  remaining,  brought  forth 
the  eternal  Light  to  the 
world,  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
By  whom  the  Angels  praise 
thy  majesty,  the  Dominations 
adore  it,  the  Powers  tremble 
before  it,  the  Heavens,  the 
heavenly  Virtues,  and  blessed 
Seraphim,  with  common  ju- 
bilee glorify  it.  Together 
with  whom  we  beseech  thee 
that  we  may  be  admitted  to 
join  our  humble  voices,  say- 
ing :  Holy  !  Holy  I  Holy  ! 


Vere  dignum  et  jus  turn 
est,  sequum  et  salutare,  nos 
tibi  semper,  et  ubique  gra- 
tias  agere  :  Domine  sancte, 
Pater  omnipotens,  seterne 
Deus  :  Et  te  in  Conceptione 
Immaculata  beatse  Mariae 
semper  Virginis  collaudare, 
benedicere,  et  prsedicare. 
Quae  et  Unigenitum  tuum 
Sancti  Spiritus  obumbra- 
tione  concepit  :  et  virgini- 
tatis  gloria  permanente,  Lu- 
men seternum  mundo  effu- 
dit,  Jesum  Christum  Domi- 
num  nostrum.  Per  quern 
Majestatem  tuam  laudant 
Angeli,  adorant  Domina- 
tiones,  tremunt  Potestates. 
Cceli,  ccelorumque  Virtutes, 
ac  beata  Seraphim,  socia  ex- 
sultatione  concelebrant.  Cum 
quibus  et  nostras  voces,  ut 
admitti  jubeas,  deprecamur, 
supplici  confessione  dicen- 
tes  :  Sanctus  I  Sanctus  ! 
Sanctus  ! 


During  the  Communion,  the  Church  shares  in  the 
holy  enthusiasm,  wherewith  David  proclaims  the 
glories  and  the  privileges  of  the  mystic  City  of  God. 


424 


ADVENT. 


COMMUNION. 


Gloriosa  dicta  sunt  de  te, 
Maria,  quia  fecit  tibi  magna 
qui  potens  est. 


Glorious  tilings  are  said  of 
thee,  O  Mary  !  for  he  that  is 
mighty  hath  done  great 
things  in  thee. 


POSTCOMMUNION. 


Sacramenta  quae  sumpsi- 
mus,  Domine  Deus  noster, 
illius  in  nobis  culpae  vul- 
nera  reparent  ;  a  qua  imma- 
culatam  beatse  Marias  Con- 
ceptionem  singulariter  prse- 
servasti.    Per  Dominum,  &c. 


May  the  mysteries  we  have 
received,  O  Lord  our  God, 
repair  in  us  the  wounds  of 
that  sin,  from  which  thou 
hast,  with  exceptional  provi- 
dence, preserved  the  Imma- 
culate Conception  of  the 
ever  Blessed  Mary.  Through, 
&c. 


Then  is  made  a  commemoration  of  Advent,  by  the 
Postcommunion  of  the  preceding  Sunday. 


SECOND  VESPERS. 

The  Antiphons,  Psalms,  Capitulum,  Hymn,  and 
Versicle,  are  the  same  as  in  first  Vespers,  pages  407- 
414. 

antiphon  of  the  Magnificat 

This  day  there  went  forth 
a  branch  from  the  root  of 
Jesse  :  this  day  was  Mary 
conceived  without  any  stain 
of  sin :  this  day  was  the 
head  of  the  old  serpent 
crushed  by  her.    Alleluia. 


Hodie  egressa  est  virga  de 
radice  Jesse  :  Hodie  sine  ulla 
peccati  labe  concepta  est 
Maria  :  hodie  contritum  est 
ab  ea  caput  serpentis  anti- 
qui.    Alleluia. 


The  Prayer  as  in  first  Vespers,  page  414. 


DEC.    8.      THE  IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION.  425 

We  will  now  give  three  liturgical  Hymns  com- 
posed in  honour  of  the  Mystery  of  Mary's  Immacu- 
late Conception ;  they  will  assist  the  faithful  to 
enter  more  fully  into  the  spirit  of  to-day's  feast.  "We 
must  give  the  precedence  to  the  beautiful  strophes, 
in  which  Prudentius,  in  his  Hymn  Ante  cibum, 
celebrates  the  triumph  of  the  Woman  over  the 
serpent.  We  find,  then,  early  in  the  5th  century, 
that  the  prince  of  Christian  poets  mentions,  as  one 
of  the  glories  of  Mary,  her  having  triumphed  over  all 
the  poisons  of  the  infernal  dragon,  because  there  was 
to  be  bestowed  upon  her  the  dignity  of  Mother  of 
God. 


HYMN. 


Lo  !  there  comes  a  new 
progeny  :  a  new  Man  come 
from  heaven,  not  formed  of 
clay  as  was  that  first  Adam  ; 
no,  it  is  God  himself  that 
has  assumed  human  nature, 
though  without  that  nature's 
sins. 

The  Word  of  the  Father  is 
made  living  flesh  ■  a  spot- 
less Virgin  is  his  Mother, 
not  made  so  by  the  ordinary 
laws  of  wedlock,  but  by  the 
overshadowing  of  that  bright 
Spirit,  who  is  God,  yet 
chooses  Mary  for  his  Spouse. 

Here  is  the  cause  of  that 
ancient  hate,  that  ever-war- 
ring quarrel  between  the 
serpent  and  man, — that  now 
the  crouching  viper  is  crushed 
by  the  Woman's  foot. 


The  Virgin,  that  was  made 
worthy  to  be  Mother  of  God, 
triumphs  over  all  the  poisons 
of  Satan  :  the  green  monster, 


Ecce  venit  nova  progenies, 
JEthere  proditus  alter  homo, 
Non  luteus,  velut  ille  prior, 
Sed  Deus  ipse  gerens  homi- 

nem, 
Corporeisque  carens  vitiis. 


Fit  caro  vivida  Sermo  Pa- 

tris, 
Numine  quern  rutilante  gra- 
vis 
Non   thalamo,    neque     jure 

tori, 
Nee  genialibus  illecebris, 
Intemerata  puella  parit. 
Hoc     odium    vetus    illud 

erat, 
Hoc  erat  aspidis,  atque    ho- 

minis 
Digladiabile  discidium, 
Quod     modo    cernua    femi- 

neis 
Vipera  proteritur  pedibus. 
Edere  namque  Deum  me- 

rita, 
Omnia  virgo  venena  domat. 
Tractibus  anguis  inexplicitis, 


426 


ADVENT. 


Virus  inerme  piger  revomit, 
Gramine  concolor  in  viridi. 


Quae  feritas  modo  non  tre- 

pidat, 
Territa  de  grege  candidulo  % 
Impavidas  lupus  inter  oves 
Tristis   obambulat,   et  rabi- 

dum 
Sanguinis  immemor  os  cohi- 

bet. 
Agnus  enim  vice  mirifica 
Ecce  leonibus  imperitat. 
Exagitansque  truces  aquilas 
Per     vaga      nubila,    perque 

notos 
Sidere  lapsa  Columba  fugat. 


now  sluggish  and  disabled, 
coils  his  huge  folds  round 
himself,  and  on  the  grass 
vomits  out  his  venom. 

Well  may  the  fierce  wolf 
tremble,  and  flee  from  the 
dear  white  lambs  of  the  fold  ! 
Sulky  and  vexed,  he  prowls 
around  the  inclosure  wherein 
they  safely  browse  :  he  dare 
not  think  of  blood,  nor  show 
his  rabid  teeth. 

O  wonderful  change  !  the 
lamb  commands  the  lion, 
and  the  heavenly  Dove  in 
her  descent  to  earth  makes 
the  ravenous  eagle  flutter 
through  the  clouds  and  the 
winds. 


The  following  Hymn  belongs  to  the  8th  century. 
It  was  written  by  the  celebrated  Paul  the  Deacon, 
who,  after  being  secretary  to  Charlemagne,  became 
a  monk  at  Monte-Cassino.  Here,  too,  we  find  the 
clearest  profession  of  faith  in  the  Immaculate  Con- 
ception. The  poison  of  original  sin,  as  the  author 
expresses  it,  has  run  its  infection  through  the  entire 
human  race  ;  but  the  Creator  sees  that  the  womb  of 
Mary  is  pure,  and  there  he  enters. 


HYMN. 


Quis  possit  amplo  famine 

praepotens 
Digne    fateri     prsemia   Vir- 

ginis, 
Per   quam  veternae   sub   la- 

queo  necis 
Orbi    retento    reddita    vita 

est? 
Hsec  Virga   Jesse,    "Virgo 

puerpera, 


Where  is  the  man  with 
words  sublime  enough  to 
tell  the  gifts  bestowed  on 
the  Virgin,  by  whom  life  was 
restored  to  the  world,  which 
was  prisoner  in  the  snare  of 
the  old  death  1 

She  is  the  Branch  of 
Jesse,    the    Virgin   Mother, 


DEC.   8.      THE   IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION.      427 


the  garden  wherein  grew  the 
divine  plant,  the  holy  foun- 
tain sealed  with  the  myste- 
rious gift  :  she  it  is  that 
made  the  world  happy  by  the 
fruit  of  her  virginal  womb. 

Our  first  parent  brought 
death  on  himself,  by  drink- 
ing in  the  poison  of  the 
wicked  serpent ;  thence  came 
the  pestilence  on  all  man- 
kind, and  it  was  mortal. 


But  the  Creator  of  the 
world  took  compassion  on 
man,  and  seeing  the  womb  of 
the  Virgin,  that  was  pure 
from  sin,  it  is  by  her  he 
decrees  to  convey  the  joys 
of  salvation  to  the  world 
that  languished  in  crime. 

Gabriel  is  sent  from 
heaven  bearing  to  the  chaste 
Virgin  the  eternal  decree  : 
and  she  becomes  Mother  of 
the  Word,  her  womb  con- 
taining within  it  Him  that 
fills  the  earth. 

A  chaste  maid,  yet  a 
mother  !  a  virgin,  yet  a 
parent !  The  Creator  of  the 
world  was  born  in  his  own 
world;  the  sceptre  was 
wrested  from  the  hands  of 
the  dreaded  enemy ;  a  new 
light  shone  throughout  the 
whole  world. 

To  the  Trinity,  the  one 
only  God,  be  glory,  honour, 
power,  highest  strength,  and 
kingdom,  for  ever  and  for 
ever.     Amen. 


Hortus  superno  germine  con- 
situs, 
Signatus   alto    munere  fons 

sacer, 
Mundum  beavit  viscere  coe- 

libi. 
Hausto  maligni  primus  ut 

occidit 
Virus    chelydri    terrigenum 

parens  ; 
Hinc  lapsa  pestis  per  genus 

irrepens 
Cunctum  profundo    vulnere 

perculit. 
Eerum  misertus  sed  sator, 

inscia 
Cernens  piaculi  viscera  Vir- 

ginis, 
Hie  f erre  mortis  crimine  lan- 

guido 
Mandat    salutis    gaudia  sae- 

culo. 
Einissus     astris      Gabriel 

innubae 
iEterna   portat    nuntia  Vir- 
gin! ; 
Verbo         tumescit       latior 

aethere, 
Alvus  replentem  ssecula  con- 

tinens. 
Intacta  mater,  virgoque  fit 

parens, 
Orbis  Creator  ortus  in  orbe 

est ; 
Hostis  pavendi    sceptra  re- 

mota  sunt, 
Toto  refulsit  lux  nova    sae- 

culo. 

Sit  Trinitati  gloria  unicae, 
Virtus,  potestas,  summa  po- 

tentia, 
Regnum  retentans,  quae  Deus 

unus  est, 
Per  cuncta    semper    ssecula 

saeculi.    Amen. 


428 


ADVENT. 


The  following  Prose  was  used  in  many  Churches, 
two  hundred  years  ago,  on  the  Feast  of  the  Immacu- 
late Conception. 


Dies  iste  celebretur, 
In  quo  pie  recensetur 
Conceptio  Marise. 

Virgo  Mater  generatur ; 
Concipitur  et  creatur 
Dulcis  vena  venise. 

Adae  vetus  exsilium, 
Et  Joachim  opprobrium, 
Hinc  habent  remedium, 

Hoc    Prophetae    prsevide- 
runt, 
Patriarchae  praesenserunt, 
Inspirante  gratia. 

Virga  prolem  conceptura, 
Stella  solem  paritura, 
Hodie  concipitur. 


Flos  de  Virga  processurus, 
Sol  de  Stella  nasciturus, 
Christus  intelligitur. 


O  quam  felix  et  praeclara, 
Nobis  grata,  Deo  chara, 
Fuit  haec  Conceptio  ! 

Terminatur  miseria ; 
Datur  misericordia  ; 
Luctus  cedit  gauclio. 

Nova  mater  novam  prolem, 
Nova  stella  novum  solem, 
Nova  profert  gratia. 


Genitorem  genitura, 
Creatorem  creatura, 
Patrem  parit  filia. 


Let  this  day  be  kept  as  a 
feast,  on  which  is  celebrated 
the  Conception  of  Mary. 

The  Virgin-Mother  is  be- 
gotten ;  she,  the  sweet  source 
of  pardon,  is  conceived  on 
this  day. 

It  was  the  remedy  of  those 
two  evils,  the  long  exile  of 
Adam,  and  the  disgrace  of 
Joachim, 

It  was  this  that  the  inspir- 
ing grace  of  God  made  the 
Prophets  foretell,  and  the 
Patriarchs  foresee. 

This  day  is  conceived 
Jesse's  Branch,  that  was  to 
produce  a  Flower,  the  Star 
that  was  to  bring  forth  the 
Sun. 

Who  is  the  Flower  that 
was  to  rise  from  the  Branch, 
who  the  Sun  that  was  to  be 
born  from  the  Star,  but  Christ 
our  Lord  1 

O  happy  and  glorious  Con- 
ception !  so  welcome  to  us, 
and  so  dear  to  God  ! 

Misery  is  at  an  end  ;  mercy 
is  given  to  us  ;  sadness  is 
succeeded  by  joy. 

By  a  new,  unheard-of 
grace,  a  new  Mother  gives 
birth  to  a  new  offspring,  and 
a  new  Star  produces  a  new 
Sun. 

She  that  is  made  brings 
forth  Him  that  made  her,  the 
creature  her  Creator,  the 
daughter  her  Father. 


DEC.  8.      THE  IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION.       429 


O  wonderful  novelty  !  O 
novel  prerogative !  the 
Mother's  purity  is  made 
purer  by  the  conception  of 
her  Child! 

Be  glad,  thou  gracious 
Maid,  thou  Branch  so  lovely 
with  thy  Flower,  thou  Mother 
so  venerable  with  thy  divine 
Babe,  thou  truly  full  of  joy  ! 

That  which  was  heretofore 
hid  under  the  thick  cloud  of 
figures,  is  now  made  manifest 
by  the  daughter  of  the  holy 
Anne  ;  the  dew  of  the  Deity 
enriches  this  her  child,  and 
she,  apure  Virgin,  brings  forth 
Jesus,  whilst  nature  beholds 
with  astonishment  an  excep- 
tion made  to  all  her  laws. 

There  was  a  sound  of  male- 
diction in  the  very  name  of 
Eva  :  but  Gabriel's  saluta- 
tion, by  an  admirable  change, 
formed  A  ve  out  of  Eva.  Vir- 
gin-Mother !  that  didst  re- 
ceive this  good  and  sweet 
word  in  thy  little  cell  at 
Nazareth  ;  grant  us  the  con- 
solation of  thy  favour. 

Come,  all  ye  faithful,  delay 
not ;  open  your  lips,  and  with 
hearty  praise  honour  the 
Mother  of  Jesus ;  pray  to 
her ;  every  day,  and  every 
hour,  let  the  mind  concord 
with  the  voice  in  prayer  and 
praise  :  yea,  even  so  must  ye 
beg  and  implore  her  patron- 
age. 

Mary !  thou  the  unfailing 
hope  of  the  wretched,  the 
true  Mother  of  orphans,  the 
consolation  of  the  afflicted, 
the  health  of  the  sick,  thou 
art  all  to  all. 


O  mirandam  novitatem, 
Novam  quoque  dignitatem  ! 
Ditat  matris  castitatem 
Filii  conceptio. 

Gaude,  Virgo  gratiosa, 
Virga  flore  speciosa, 
Mater  prole  generosa, 
Vere  plena  gaudio. 

Quod  prsecessit  in  figura, 
Nube  latens  sub  obscura, 
Hoc  declarat  genitura 
Pise  matris  :  Virgo  pura, 
Pariendi  vertit  jura, 
Fusa,  mirante  natura, 
Deitatis  pluvia. 


Triste  f uit  in  Eva  vce  ! 
Sed  ex  Eva  format  ave, 
Versa  vice,  sed  non  prave  ; 
Intus  ferens  in  conclave 
Verbum  bonum  et  suave  ; 
Nobis,  Mater  Virgo,  f  ave 
Tua  frui  gratia. 


Omnis  homo,  sine  mora, 
Laude  plena  solvens  ora, 
Istam  colas,  ipsam  ora  : 
Omni  die,  omni  hora, 
Sit  mens  supplex,voxsonora 
Sic  supplica,  sic  implora 
Hujus  patrocinia. 


Tu  spes  certa  miserorum, 
Vere  mater  orphanorum, 
Tu  levamen  oppressorum, 
Medicamen  infirmorum, 
Omnibus  es  omnia. 


430 


ADVENT. 


Te  rogamus  voto  pari, 
Laude  digna  singulari, 
Ut  errantes  in  hoc  mari, 
Nos  in  portu  salutari 
Tua  sistat  gratia. 

Amen. 


O  thou  that  art  worthy  of 
special  praise,  hear  our  united 
prayer,  and  may  thy  inter- 
cession lead  us,  poor  wan- 
derers on  this  sea  of  life,  to 
the    haven     of      Salvation. 

Amen. 


DEC.    9.     SECOND  DAY  WITHIN  THE   OCTAVE.      431 


Decembek  9. 
THE   SECOND   DAY  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE 

OF   THE   IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION. 


Let  us  consider  how  the  immaculate  Mary  came  into 
this  world  nine  months  after  her  Conception,  and 
how  each  day  of  her  life  gave  man  fresh  reason  to 
hope  for  the  great  promises  made  him  by  God.  Let 
us  admire  the  fulness  of  grace  which  God  has  given 
to  her,  and  contemplate  the  respect  and  the  love 
wherewith  the  holy  Angels  look  upon  her  as  the 
future  Mother  of  Him  who  is  to  be  their  Head  and 
King,  as  well  as  ours.  Let  us  follow  this  august 
Queen  to  the  Temple  of  Jerusalem,  where  she  is  pre- 
sented by  her  parents,  St.  Joachim  and  St.  Anne. 
When  but  three  years  of  age,  she  was  initiated  into 
all  the  secrets  of  divine  love.  "I  always  rose  at 
"  midnight  (thus  she  spoke  of  herself,  in  a  revelation 
"  to  St.  Elizabeth  of  Hungary),  and  went  before  the 
"  Altar  of  the  Temple,  where  I  besought  of  God  that 
"  I  might  observe  all  the  commandments  of  his  Law, 
"and  be  enriched  with  those  graces  which  would 
"  render  me  pleasing  to  his  Majesty.  I  most 
"  earnestly  prayed  him,  that  I  might  live  to  see  that 
"  most  holy  virgin  who  was  to  bring  forth  into  this 
"world  his  own  divine  Son.  I  asked  him  to  grant 
*  me  to  enjoy  the  use  of  my  eyes  that  I  might  see 
"  her,  of  my  tongue  that  I  might  praise  her,  of  my 
"  hands  that  I  might  serve  her,  of  my  feet  that  I 


432  ADVENT. 

"might  go  her  errands,    and   of  my  knees  that    I 
"  might  adore  the  Son  of  God  resting  in  her  arms." 

Thou,  O  Mary,  thou  thyself  wast  this  Virgin,  who 
was  worthy  of  the  praises  of  men  and  Angels  !  But 
God  had  not  yet  revealed  it  to  thee,  and  thy  heavenly 
humility  forbade  thy  thinking  that  the  immense 
dignity,  which  thou  didst  so  deeply  venerate,  could 
ever  be  thine.  Nay,  thou  wast  the  first  and  the 
only  one  of  the  daughters  of  Israel  that  had  re- 
nounced all  hope  of  ever  being  the  Mother  of  the 
Messias.  To  be  Mother  of  the  Messias  was,  indeed, 
an  ineffable  honour ;  but  it  seemed  as  though  it 
could  only  be  received  on  the  condition  of  having 
another  Spouse  besides  God,  and  this  thou  wouldst 
not  suffer  ;  thou  wouldst  be  united  to  God  alone,  and 
thy  vow  of  Virginity  which  made  thee  so,  was  dearer 
to  thee  than  the  possibility  of  any  privilege,  which 
would  rob  thee  even  of  a  tittle  of  that.  Thy  marriage 
with  St.  Joseph,  therefore,  was  a  fresh  lustre  added 
to  thy  incomparable  purity,  whilst,  in  the  design's  of 
God,  it  provided  thee  with  the  protection  which  thy 
coming  honours  would  soon  require.  We  follow  thee, 
O  Spouse  of  Joseph,  into  thy  house  at  Nazareth, 
where  is  to  be  spent  thy  humble  life.  There  we  behold 
thee  diligent  in  all  thy  duties,  the  valiant  Woman 
of  the  Scriptures,1  the  object  of  the  admiration  of 
God  and  his  Angels.  Suffer  us,  O  Mary !  to  unite 
our  Advent  devotions  with  the  prayers  which  thou 
didst  offer  up  for  the  coming  of  the  Messias ;  with 
the  veneration  wherewith  thou  didst  think  upon  Her 
that  was  to  be  his  Mother  ;  and  with  the  inflamed 
desires  wherewith  thou  didst  long  for  the  divine 
Saviour.  We  salute  thee  as  the  Virgin2  foretold  by 
Isaias ;  it  is  thyself,  O  blessed  Mother,  that  deservest 
the  praise  and  love  of  the  holy  people  and  city,  the 
redeemed  of  the  Lo7xl.3 


1  Prov.  xxxi.  10.  2  Is.  vii.  14.  3  Ibid.  xlii.  12. 


DEC.    9.      SECOND   DAY   WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE.    433 


SEQUENCE. 
{Taken  from  the  Gluny  Missal  o/1523.) 


Let  us  venerate  the  Virgin, 
the  Mother  of  grace,  the 
sweetness  of  Salvation,  the 
fount  of  Wisdom. 

She  is  the  palace  of  the 
King,  the  Queen  of  prudence, 
the  Virgin  full  of  grace,  the 
Aurora  of  joy. 

She  is  sweeter  than  honey, 
the  lily  of  chastity  ;  she  is 
brighter  than  the  jaspar,  our 
solace  in  sorrow. 

O  fountain  most  admirable, 
source  whence  came  the  au- 
thor of  our  faith,  Mother  most 
admirable,  precious  vessel  of 
virtue. 

Thou  art  the  purest  Mother 
of  the  beautiful  King  ;  thou 
art  the  perfume  of  precious 
ointment ;  thou  art  the  sweet- 
est Rose. 

Rejoice,  0  glorious  tree  of 
life,  O  brightest  of  stars,  O 
noblest  of  Mothers,  O  Virgin 
most  holy  ! 

Thou  the  sinner's  help,  and 
Queen  of  counsel,  didst  bring 
forth  the  flower  of  flowers, 
Jesus  the  source  of  our  joy. 

Branch  of  Jesse,  light  of  the 
Saints,  help  of  the  needy,  be 
mindful  of  us  sinners  on  the 
day  of  judgment. 

Thou  art  the  joy  of  the 
world,  the  model  of  charity, 
the  encouragement  to  victory, 
the  treasury  of  every  fra- 
grance. 

To  thee,  O  sweetest  flower, 
Immaculate  Virgin,  be  queen- 
ly honour  for  ever. 

Amen. 


Veneremur  Virginem 
Genitricem  gratise, 
Salutis  dulcedinem, 
Fontem  Sapientiae. 

Haec  est  aula  regia, 
Regina  prudentiae, 
Virgo  plena  gratia, 
Aurora  lsetitiae. 

Haec  est  melle  dulcior, 
Castitatis  lilium  ; 
Jaspide  splendidior, 
Mceroris  solatium. 

O  fons  admirabilis, 
Fidei  principium. 
Mater  admirabilis, 
Vas  virtutis  pretium. 

Tu  es  regis  speciosi 
Mater  honestissima, 
Odor  nardi  pretiosi, 
Rosa  suavissima. 

Arbor  vitas  digna  laude, 
Stella  fulgentissima, 
Generosa  Mater,  gaude, 
Virginum  sanctissima. 

Tu  inedela  peccatorum, 
Regina  consilii, 
Peperisti  florem  florum, 
Christum  fontem  gaudii. 

Virga  Jesse,  lux  Sanctorum, 
Donatrix  auxilii, 
Memor  esto  miserorum, 
In  die  Judicii. 

Tu  es  muncli  gaudium, 
Charitatis  regula, 
Victoris  stipendium, 
Aromatum  cellula. 

Sit  tibi,  flos  omnium, 
Virgo  sine  macula, 
Honor  et  imperium, 
Per  seterna  ssecula. 

Amen. 

2  F 


434 


ADVENT. 


PRAYER   FROM   THE   GREGORIAN   SACRAMENTART. 
{In  the  daily  Prayers  for  Advent.) 


Exsultemus,  quaesumus, 
Domine  Deus  noster,  omnes 
recti  corde  in  imitate  fidei 
congregati :  ut  veniente  Sal- 
vatore  nostro  Filio  tuo,  im- 
maculati  occurramus  illi  in 
ejus  Sanctorum  comitatu. 
Per  Christum  Dominum  nos- 
trum. 

Amen. 


Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Lord  our  God,  that  all  we, 
who  are  united  with  upright 
hearts  in  the  unity  of  faith, 
may  rejoice  :  that  so,  when 
thy  Son  our  Saviour  shall 
come,  we,  being  purified,  may 
meet  him  in  the  society  of  his 
Saints.  Through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord. 

Amen. 


DEC.  10.     THIRD  DAY  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE.     435 


December  10. 
THE  THIRD  DAY  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE 

OF   THE   IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION. 


Let  us  contemplate  our  Blessed  Lady's  being  visited 
by  the  Angel  Gabriel,  and  conceiving  in  her  chaste 
womb  the  Creator  of  the  universe  aud  the  Redeemer 
of  mankind.  But  that  we  may  the  better  relish  the 
sweetness  of  this  great  Mystery,  let  us  listen  to  the 
Seraphic  St.  Bonaventure,  who,  in  his  Meditations 
on  the  Life  of  Christ,  has  brought  these  sublime 
scenes  of  the  Gospel  so  vividly  before  us,  that  one 
would  almost  suppose  it  was  an  eye-witness  was 
speaking  to  us.  No  human  language  has  ever  sur- 
passed the  unction  and  pathos  of  these  Meditations. 
"  Now,  when  the  fulness  of  that  time  had  come, 
wherein  the  Most  High  Trinity,  in  exceeding  love, 
had  decreed  to  save  mankind  by  the  Incarnation  of 
the  Word  ;  the  Divine  Mercy,  and  the  instant  prayers 
of  the  blessed  Spirits,  pressed  for  the  accomplishment 
of  this  redemption.  The  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  having 
returned  to  Nazareth,  the  Almighty  called  unto  him 
the  Archangel  Gabriel,  and  thus  spake  unto  him  :  '  Go 
1  thou  unto  our  well-beloved  Daughter  Mary,  that  is 
'  espoused  unto  Joseph,  she  that  is  dear  unto  us 
'  above  all  our  creatures ;  and  say  unto  her,  that  the 
'  Son  of  God  hath  been  taken  with  her  beauty,  and 
'  chosen  her  that  she  be  his  Mother.  Pray  her  that 
1  she  accept  him  joyously,  for  that  through  her  have 


436  ADVENT. 

'  I  decreed  to  save  all  mankind,  and  no  longer  re- 
'  member  the  injuries  done  unto  me.' 

"  Whereupon,  Gabriel  arose  joyous  and  glad,  and 
flew  from  on  high,  and  suddenly  stood  in  a  human 
form  before  the  Virgin  Mary,  who  was  in  the  inner 
chamber  of  her  cot.  But  not  so  quick  had  been  his 
flight,  but  that  he  found  already  there  the  Holy 
Trinity,  that  had  gone  before  their  ambassador.  As 
soon,  therefore,  as  the  faithful  Spirit  Gabriel  perceived 
the  Virgin  Mary,  he  said  :  Hail !  full  of  grace;  the 
Lord  is  ivith  thee  :  blessed  art  thou  among  women. 
But  she  was  troubled,  and  answered  him  not  a  word. 
Her  trouble  came  not  from  a  guilty  fear,  nor  from 
the  sight  of  Gabriel,  for  oft-times  did  she  receive  the 
visits  of  the  Angels  ;  but,  according  to  what  the 
Gospel  saith,  she  was  troubled  at  his  saying,  thinking 
within  herself  upon  it,  for  that  it  was  strange  unto 
her  to  hear  Gabriel  speak  such  manner  of  salutation. 

"  The  humble  Virgin  was  perforce  troubled  at  it, 
finding  therein  three  praises  of  herself.  She  was 
praised  for  that  she  was  full  of  grace;  and  that  the 
Lord  ivas  with  her;  and  that  she  was  blessed  above 
all  women.  He  that  is  humble,  cannot  hear  his  own 
praise  without  blushes  and  trouble.  Therefore,  Mary 
was  troubled  with  fitting  and  virtuous  shame.  She 
began  wondering  how  this  that  she  heard  could  be 
true  ;  not  forasmuch  as  she  suspected  the  Angel's 
having  said  aught  that  was  false,  but  by  reason  tha 
the  humble  ever  ponder  their  defects  and  not  their 
virtues,  whereby  they  may  always  advance  ;  counting 
their  great  virtue  to  be  little,  and  their  little  defects 
great.  As  one  that  was  prudent  and  wary,  timid  and 
bashful,  she  answered  not.  In  truth,  what  could  she 
say  ?  Do  thou  learn,  from  her  example,  to  be  silent, 
and  to  love  to  speak  little,  for  exceeding  great  and 
useful  is  this  virtue.  Twice  is  she  spoke  unto, 
before  she  speaks  once,  for  it  is  a  thing  intolerable 
that  a  virgin  should  be  a  great  talker. 


DEC.   10.      THIRD  DAY  WITHIN   THE   OCTAVE.      437 

"  As  soon,  therefore,  as  the  Angel  saw  that  she  was 
inus  in  doubt,  he  said  :  -  Fear  not,  Mary,  neither  blush 
'  thou  at  the  praises  I  have  spoken  unto  thee,  for  they 
'  are  most  true.  Thou  thyself  art  full  of  grace  ;  nay, 
'  verily,  I  tell  thee,  that  thou  hast  found  for  man  the 
'  grace  he  had  lost.  For  behold  !  thou  shalt  conceive 
'  and  bring  forth  a  Son,  that  hath  chosen  thee  for  his 
'  Mother,  and  he  shall  save  all  that  put  their  trust  in 
'  him.'  Whereupon  she  made  answer,  heeding  nothing 
the  praises  of  the  Angel,  but  seeking  how  it  could  be 
that  that  should  not  be  taken  from  her,  which  was  pre- 
cious unto  her  above  measure ;  and  she  asked  of  the 
Angel,  saying :  'How  shall  this  be?  for  I  have  vowed 

*  my  Virginity  for  ever  unto  God,  that  I  never  should 
1  know  man.'  The  Angel  answered,  and  said  :  -  It 
'  shall  be  done  by  the  operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
1  who  shall  fill  thee  as  no  tongue  can  speak.  Thou 
'  shalfc  conceive  by  his  power,  yet  shalt  remain  a  pure 

*  Virgin,  and  therefore  shall  thy  son  be  called  the  Son 
'  of  God.  For  unto  God  nothing  is  impossible.  For 
'  thy  cousin  Elizabeth,  that  is  old  and  called  barren, 

*  has  conceived  a  son  by  the  power  of  God,  now  these 
'  six  months  past/ 

"  Consider  here,  I  beseech  thee,  for  God's  sake,  how 
the  Trinity  is  there,  waiting  the  answer  and  consent 
of  this  their,  most  beloved  daughter,  and  taking  de- 
light in  her  modesty,  and  ways,  and  words ;  and  also, 
how  diligent  and  wise  is  the  Angel  in  his  endeavour 
to  obtain  her  consent,  and  how  admirable  are  his 
words,  and  how  he  stands  with  his  head  bowed  down 
before  his  and  our  Lady,  with  a  placid  and  recollected 
look,  doing  his  embassy  with  exactitude,  and  atten- 
tively noting  Mary's  words,  so  as  to  be  able  to  satisfy 
her  in  his  answers,  and  execute  the  divine  will  in  this 
wondrous  work.  See,  too,  how  our  Lady  stands  in 
holy  fear  and  humility,  showing  in  her  face  the  blush 
of  modesty,  and  surprise  at  thie  so  sudden  visit  of  the 
Angel.     Neither  have  his  words  extolled  her  in  her 


438  ADVENT. 

own  esteem :  and  albeit  they  were  such  as  never  had 
been  spoken  to  mortal,  yet  does  she  attribute  nought 
to  herself,  but  all  to  grace.  Learn,  therefore,  of  her 
to  have  modesty  and  humility,  for  without  them  even 
virginity  availeth  little.  The  most  prudent  Virgin 
is  full  of  joy,  and  gives  consent  unto  the  words  of  the 
Angel.  Then,  as  is  related  in  the  revelations  made 
to  a  devout  servant  of  God,  throwing  herself  on  her 
knees  with  intense  devotion,  and  joining  her  hands 
together,  she  said  unto  the  Angel :  '  Behold  the  hand- 
'  maid  of  the  Lord,  be  it  done  unto  me  according  to 
'  thy  word.'  Then  straightways  did  the  Son  of  God 
enter  the  Virgin's  womb,  and  took  unto  himself  flesh 
of  her  substance,  and  though  his  whole  Person  was 
there,  yet  did  he  not  cease  to  abide  still  wholly  in  the 
bosom  of  his  Father. 

"  Then  did  Gabriel  also  kneel  down,  and  shortly 
after  rise  up  together  with  our  Lady.  He  once  more, 
bowed  down  even  unto  the  ground,  and  wishing  her 
farewell,  he  disappeared  :  and  going  back  to  heaven, 
he  related  all  these  things,  and  a  new  joy  was  there, 
and  a  new  feast,  and  exceeding  great  jubilee.  But 
our  Lady,  all  devout,  and  burning  with  a  love  of  God 
such  as  she  had  felt  not  before,  for  she  perceived 
what  was  done  within  her,  knelt  to  give  thanks  for 
this  so  great  gift,  humbly  and  devoutly  supplicating 
the  divine  Majesty  that  he  would  vouchsafe  to  teach 
her  how  she  should  comport  herself  with  all  perfec- 
tion in  her  treatment  of  this  his  Only  Begotten  Son." 

Such  is  the  description  of  the  mystery  of  the  An- 
nunciation given  us  by  the  Seraphic  Doctor.  Let  us 
profoundly  adore  our  Creator,  who  has  thus  humbled 
himself  out  of  love  for  us,  and  from  the  desire  he  has 
to  succour  us  in  our  misery.  Let  us  also  salute  Mary, 
the  Mother  of  God  and  of  men. 


DEC.  10.      THIRD   DAT   WITHIN   THE  OCTAVE.    439 


PROSE. 

(Taken  from  the  Cluny  Missal  of  1523.) 


This  is  a  day  of  joy  !  let  us 
celebrate  it  in  honour  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  who 
gave  us  him  that  cleansed  us 
from  sin. 

He  that  is  the  source  of 
true  light,  brought  up  this 
Branch  from  the  root  of 
Jesse ;  and  his  wisdom  has 
made  her  the  temple  of  his 
grace. 

It  is  a  new  rising  of  a  new 
Star,  at  which  our  death 
dies  :  it  is  now  that  what 
was  lost  by  the  fall  of  Eve, 
is  found  again  in  Mary. 

This  is  the  Holy  Virgin 
that  is  described  as  the 
Aurora  rising,  as  the  lovely 
moon,  as  the  sun,  the 
brightest  of  orbs. 

O  Virgin  Mother,  Virgin 
of  Virgins,  fragrant  cloud  of 
smoke,    sun     shedding    the 

Eerfume  of  its  light !  in  thee 
oth  heaven  and   earth  de- 
light. 

In  the  fulness  of  time, 
the  Word  of  the  Father 
entered  into  thy  chaste 
womb  ;  wholly  in  thee,  and 
wholly  in  the  bosom  of  his 
Father. 

Jesus,  the  beautiful  fruit 
of  a  virgin  tree,  snatched  us, 
in  his  giant  strength,  from 
the  claims  which  sin  and 
hell  had  upon  us. 

This  God,  that  saved  the 
human  race,  is  the  Son  of 


In  honorem  Mariae  Virgi- 
nis, 
Quae  nos  lavit  a  labe  criminis, 
Celebretur  hodie  : 
Dies  est  lsetitiae. 

De  radice  Jesse  propaginis 
Hanc  eduxit  Sol  veri  luminis, 
Manu  sapientise, 
Templum  suae  gratiae. 


Stella  nova  noviter  oritur, 
Cujus  ortu  mors  nostra  mo- 

ritur  : 
Evse  lapsus  jam  restituitur 
In  Maria. 
Et  aurora  surgens  progre- 
ditur 
Sicut  luna   pulchra    descri- 

bitur ; 
Super  cuncta  ut  sol  erigitur 
Virgo  pia. 
Virgo     Mater    et    Virgo 
unica 
Virga  fumi,  sol  aromatica, 
In  te  cceli,  mundique  fabrica 
Gloriatur. 

Verbum    Patris    processu 
temporis 
Intra  tui  secretum  corporis  ; 
In  te  totum,  et  totum  deforis 
In  te  fuit. 

Fructus  virens  arentis  ar- 
boris 
Christus,  gigas  immensi  ro- 

boris, 
Nos  a  nexu  funesti  pignoris 
Eripuit. 
Condoluit  humano  generi 
Virginalis  films  uteri : 


440 


ADVENT. 


Accingantur  senes  et  pueri 
Ad  laudem  Virginis. 

Qui  potuit  de  nobis  con- 
queri 
Pro  peccato  parentis  veteris, 
Mediator  voluit  fieri 
Dei  et  hominis. 
O   Maria,  dulce  commer- 
cium 
Intrat    tuum    co3leste    gre- 

mmm, 
Quo  salutis  reis  remedium 
Indulgetur. 
O  spes  vera  et  verum  gau- 
dium, 
Fac  post  vitas  praesentis  sta- 
dium 
Ut   optatum  in  ccelis    bra- 
vium, 
Nobis  detur.    Amen. 


the  Virgin  :  in  that  Virgin's 
praise  all  may  justly  speak 
and  sing. 

He  that  might  have 
punished  us  for  the  sin  of 
our  first  parents,  became 
himself  the  Mediator  be- 
tween God  and  man. 

In  thy  chaste  womb,  O 
Mary  !  was  made  that  merci- 
ful barter,  whereby  salvation 
was  given  to  the  sinner. 


Truly,  then,  thou  art  the 
cause  of  our  joy  and  hope  ! 
Oh  !  pray,  that  after  running 
the  race  of  this  present  life, 
we  may  receive  the  looked- 
for  prize  in  heaven.     Amen. 


DEC.    10.      ST.    MELCHIADES.  441 


THE  SAME  DAY. 

SAJNT  MELCHIADES,  POPE  AND  MARTYR 


The  Church  makes  a  Commemoration,  on  this  same 
day  within  the  Octave,  of  the  holy  Pope  Melchiades. 
This  illustrious  Pontiff,  whom  St.  Augustine  calls  the 
true  child  of  the  peace  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  worthy 
Father  of  the  Christian  people,  ascended  the  papal 
throne  in  the  year  311,  that  is,  during  the  very 
fiercest  storm  of  persecution.  It  is  on  this  account 
that  he  is  honoured  with  the  title  of  Martyr. 
Though  he  did  not  shed  his  blood  for  the  name 
of  Jesus,  yet  he  shared  in  the  glory  of  the  Martyrs, 
by  reason  of  the  great  trials  he  had  to  suffer  during 
the  persecution,  which  afflicted  the  entire  Church. 
It  was  the  same  with  many  of  his  predecessors.  But 
the  Pontificate  of  Melchiades  marks  a  very  im- 
portant period  of  the  Church, — the  transition  from 
persecution  to  peace.  As  early  as  the  year  312, 
liberty  had  been  granted  to  the  Christian  religion  by 
Constantine.  So  that  Melchiades  had  the  glory  of 
governing  the  Church  at  the  commencement  of  her 
period  of  temporal  prosperity.  His  name  now 
graces  the  calendar  of  the  liturgical  year,  and 
reminds  us  of  that  Peace  which  will  soon  descend 
upon  us  from  heaven. 

Deign  then,  0  Father  of  the  Christian  people,  to 
pray  for  us  to  the  Prince  of  Peace,  that,  in  his 
approaching  visit,  he  may  quell  our  troubles,  remove 
the  obstacles  to  his  grace,  and  reign  as  absolute 
Master  over  our  heart,  our  mind,  and  our  senses. 
Pray  also  that  Peace  may  reign  in  the  Holy  City 


442 


ADVENT. 


and  Church  of  Rome,  of  which  thou  wast  the  Bishop, 
and  which  will  honour  thy  venerable  memory  to  the 
end  of  time  :  help  her  by  thy  intercession  now  that 
thou  art  face  to  face  with  God,  and  hear  the  prayers 
which  she  addresses  to  thee. 


PRAYER. 


Infirmitatem  nostram  res- 
pice,  omnipotens  Deus,  et 
quia  pondus  proprise  actionis 
gravat,  beati  Melchiadis  Mar- 
tyris  tui  atque  Pontificis 
intercessio  gloriosa  nos  pro- 
tegat.  Per  Christum  Domi- 
num  nostrum.    Amen. 


Have  regard,  O  almighty 
God,  to  our  weakness  ;  and 
as  we  sink  under  the  weight 
of  our  own  doings,  let  the 
glorious  intercession  of 
blessed  Melchiades,  thy 
Martyr  and  Bishop,  be  a 
protection  to  us.  Through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 


DEC.  10.  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  LORETTO.  443 


THE   SAME  DAY. 

THE  TRANSLATION 

OF   THE  HOLY  HOUSE   OF   LORETTO. 


This  feast  is  not  one  of  those  which  is  inserted  in 
the  universal  calendar  of  the  Church ;  but  it  is  kept 
at  Rome  and  in  the  Papal  States,  in  Tuscany,  in 
the  Kingdom  of  Naples,  in  Spain,  in  Belgium,  in  a 
great  many  dioceses  in  all  parts  of  the  Christian 
world,  and  by  almost  all  the  Religious  Orders.  It 
was  instituted  in  thanksgiving  for  the  great  favour 
bestowed  on  the  Western  Church,  whereby  God,  to 
console  Christians  for  the  loss  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre, 
miraculously  translated  into  a  Catholic  land  the 
humble  yet  ever  venerable  House,  in  which  Mary 
received  the  message  of  the  Angel,  and  where,  by  the 
consent  of  this  Holy  Virgin,  the  Word  was  made 
flesh  and  began  to  dwell  among  us.  It  is  no 
unusual  thing  to  meet  with  Catholics,  who  are  sin- 
cerely devoted  to  their  holy  faith,  yet  who  have  never 
heard  of  the  House  of  Loretto.  It  is  for  their 
sakes  that  we  have  resolved  to  take  the  opportunity 
of  this  Feast  to  give  an  exact  and  concise  account  of 
this  wonderful  event.  We  take  it  from  the  learned 
and  judicious  author  of  the  Life  of  Olier. 

"  It  was  during  the  Pontificate  of  Celestine  V.,  in 
1291,  when  the  Christians  had  irrevocably  lost  the 
Holy  places  of  Palestine,  that  the  House,  wherein 
was  achieved  the  mystery  of  the  Incarnation  in  the 


444  ADVENT. 

womb  of  Mary,  was  translated  by  the  Angels  from 
Nazareth  into  Dalmatia  or  Sclavonia,  and  placed  by 
them  on  a  hill  near  a  little  town  called  Tersatto. 
The  miracles  which  were  continually  being  wrought 
in  this  holy  house,  the  official  enquiry  made  by  chosen 
deputies  who  visited  Nazareth  in  order  to  attest 
the  Translation,  and,  lastly,  the  universal  belief  of  all 
countries  and  the  pilgrims  who  went  from  all  parts 
to  venerate  a  Sanctuary  which  had  ever  been  dear  to 
Christians, — all  this  seemed  proof  enough  of  the 
miracle.  But  God  gave  another  testimony,  of  which 
the  whole  people  of  Italy  and  Dalmatia  were  the 
vouchers. 

"  Three  years  and  seven  months  had  elapsed  since 
this  first  translation,  when,  in  the  year  1294,  the 
Holy  House  was  carried  across  the  Adriatic  Sea  to 
the  territory  of  Recanati,  and  placed  in  a  forest  the 
property  of  a  lady  called  Loretta.  The  inhabitants 
of  Dalmatia  were  in  the  deepest  affliction  :  nothing 
could  have  been  a  greater  trial  to  them.  As  a  slight 
consolation  to  themselves,  they  erected  a  church  on 
the  spot  where  the  house  had  stood ;  it  was  dedi- 
cated to  our  Lady,  and  was  served,  later  on,  by  the 
Franciscan  Fathers.  Over  the  porch  was  placed  this 
inscription  :  This  is  the  place  where  stood  the  Holy 
House  of  Nazareth,  which  now  is  honoured  in  the 
territory  of  Recanati.1  Many  of  the  people  of  Dal- 
matia went  to  live  in  Italy  near  the  Holy  House, 
where  they  instituted  the  Society  of  Corpus  Domini 
(known  under  the  name  of  Sclavonians),  which 
lasted  even  to  the  Pontificate  of  Paul  III. 

"  This  second  Translation  was  soon  rumoured 
throughout  Christendom.  There  came  from  almost 
every  part  of  Europe  innumerable  pilgrims  to  Reca- 
nati, that  they  might  visit  the  House,  which  has  ever 


1  Hie  est  locus  in  quo  fuit  sacra  Domus  Nazareua,  quae  nunc  in 
Recineti  partibus  colitur. 


DEC.  10.  TEANSLATION  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  LOEETTO.  445 

since  gone  under  the  name  of  The  House  of  Loretto. 
The  people  of  Recanati,  anxious  that  ever}^  doubt 
upon  this  favour  granted  them  should  be  removed, 
sent  over,  first  to  Dalmatia  and  afterwards  to  Naza- 
reth, sixteen  of  the  most  respectable  persons  of  the 
neighbourhood,  who  were  instructed  to  make  fresh 
enquiries  in  both  places.  But  here  again,  God  would 
certify  the  prodigy  by  a  third  and  a  fourth  Transla- 
tion, which  were  made,  close  upon  each  other,  in  the 
same  territory  of  Recanati,  The  Holy  House  had  not 
been  in  the  Forest  of  Loretto  eight  months,  when  it 
was  found  that  the  pilgrims  were  continually  attacked 
by  brigands,  who  were  attracted  to  the  neighbourhood 
by  the  hope  of  booty.  The  house  was  miraculously 
removed  the  distance  of  a  mile,  and  placed  on  a  piece 
of  rising  ground,  which  belonged  to  two  brothers  of 
the  family  of  the  Antici.  These  also  laid  hands  on 
the  offerings  of  the  pilgrims  ;  and  having  quarrelled 
about  the  division  of  their  plunder,  they  took  up 
arms  against  each  other.  Then  it  was  that  the  Holy 
House,  in  the  year  1295,  was  once  more  translated  : 
this  time  also  to  a  very  short  distance,  but  near  the 
high  road.  There  has  been  built  the  town  of  Loretto, 
and  there,  to  this  day,  remains  the  House  of  Loretto ." 

This  prodigy  has  been  attested  not  only  by  the 
annalists  of  the  Church,  and  by  the  local  historians 
of  Loretto  (e.g.,  Tursellini  and  Martorelli),  but  by 
writers  whose  profound  learning  has  gained  them  a 
world-wide  reputation,  and  among  them  we  may 
cite  Papebroke,  Natalis  Alexander,  Benedict  XIV., 
Trombelli,  &c.  Who,  that  is  not  blind  with  prejudice, 
could  seriously  think  of  preferring  an  idle  repugnance 
to  the  authority  of  such  writers  as  these,  who  are  the 
received  masters  of  historical  criticism,  and  whose 
united  opinion  would  not  be  rejected  on  any  other 
question  ? 

But,  in  a  Catholic  point  of  view,  it  is  certain  that 


446  ADVENT. 

those  persons  would  be  guilty  of  excessive  temerity, 
who  would  disregard  the  countless  miracles  which 
have  been  wrought  in  the  Holy  House  of  Loretto. 
They  dare  not  deny  all  these  miracles ;  and  yet,  by 
denying  the  fact  in  question,  they  are  admitting  that 
God  is  giving  his  sanction  by  miracles  to  what  would 
be,  if  false,  the  most  absurd  and  grossest  deception. 
They  would  incur  the  imputation  of  temerity  on 
another  ground,  inasmuch  as  they  would  be  slight- 
ing the  authority  of  the  Holy  See,  which  has  been, 
for  upwards  of  five  hundred  years,  so  zealous  in  de- 
fending the  truth  of  this  Translation,  and  in  offering 
it  to  the  veneration  of  the  faithful  as  a  means  of 
honouring  the  Incarnate  Word  and  his  ever  Blessed 
Mother.  Among  the  explicit  approbations  of  the 
Holy  See  regarding  the  miracle  of  Loretto,  we  will 
mention  the  Bulls  of  Paul  II.,  of  Leo  X.,  of  Paul  III., 
of  Paul  IV.,  and  of  Xystus  Y.  ;  the  Decree  of  Urban 
VIII.,  in  1632,  establishing  this  Feast  in  the  Marche 
of  Ancona;  the  Decree  of  Innocent  XII.,  in  1699, 
approving  the  Proper  Office  of  the  Feast ;  and  finally, 
the  Indults  of  Benedict  XIII.,  and  his  successors, 
extending  this  feast  to  the  several  provinces  of  the 
Catholic  world. 

That  we  may  enter  into  the  spirit  of  the  Holy  See, 
which  has  spared  nothing  in  order  to  encourage  the 
confidence  of  the  faithful  in  the  Holy  House  of  Na- 
zareth, or  rather  (as  by  the  divine  mercy  it  has  now 
become)  the  House  of  Loretto,  we  will  give  the  follow- 
ing from  the  Office  of  its  miraculous  Translation  : 

ANTIPHON. 

Ecce  tabernaculum  Dei  Behold  the  tabernacle  of 
cum  hominibus,  et  habitavit  God  with  men,  wherein  he 
cum  eis  ;  et  ipsi  populus  ejus  dwelt  with  them  ;  and  they 
erunt,  et  ipse  Deus  cum  eis  shall  be  his  people,  and  God 
erit  eorum  Deus.  himself  with  them  shall  be 

their  God. 


DEC.  10.  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  LORETTO.  447 


$*.  We  will  go  into  his 
tabernacle. 

1$.  We  will  adore  in  the 
place  where  his  feet  stood. 


$\  Introibimusintaberna- 
culum  ejus. 

]$.  Adorabimus  in  loco  ubi 
steterunt  pedes  ejus. 


PRAYER. 


O  God,  who  didst  merci- 
fully consecrate  the  House 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary 
by  the  mystery  of  the  Word 
made  Flesh,  and  hast  now 
mercifully  placed  that  House 
in  the  midst  of  thy  Church  ; 
grant,  that  being  separated 
from  the  abodes  of  sinners, 
we  may  be  made  worthy  to 
dwell  in  thy  holy  house. 
Through  the  same  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.    Amen. 


Deus,  qui  beatse  Marise 
Virginis  Domum  per  incar- 
nati  Verbi  mysterium  mise- 
ricorditer  consecrasti,  eam- 
que  in  sinu  Ecclesiae  tuse 
mirabiliter  collocasti  :  con- 
cede, ut  segregati  a  taberna- 
culis  peccatorum,  digni  effi- 
ciamur  habitatores  domus 
sanctae  tuse.  Per  eumdem 
Christum  Dominum  nos- 
trum.   Amen. 


448  ADVENT. 


THE   SAME   DAY. 

SAINT  EULALIA,  VIRGIN  AND  MARTYR. 


The  Church  of  Spain,  the  fair  pearl  of  Christendom, 
brings  before  us  on  this  same  tenth  of  December  her 
illustrious  Martyr  Eulalia,  the  glory  of  Merida,  the 
ornament  of  Iberia,  the  joy  of  the  universal  Church. 
She  is  the  third  of  those  Wise  Virgins,  whose  names 
are  most  prominent  in  the  Church's  liturgy  during 
the  season  of  Advent.  She  is  the  worthy  companion 
of  Bibiana,  and  Barbara,  and  that  heroic  Lucy  whose 
feast  we  shall  keep  on  the  thirteenth.  We  give  the 
whole  of  the  beautiful  poem  on  the  life  and  martyr- 
dom of  Eulalia,  written  by  Prudentius.  Never, 
perhaps,  did  this  prince  of  Christian  poets  write 
finer  verses  than  these  ;  nor  can  we  be  surprised 
that  the  Mozarabic  Liturgy,  in  its  admiration  of  this 
exquisite  canticle,  should  have  made  but  one  Hymu 
of  its  forty-five  stanzas.  As  it  gives  the  Life  of  oui 
Saint,  we  shall  not  add  the  Legend  of  the  Proper 
Office  as  used  in  the  Churches  of  Spain. 

HYMN. 

Germine  nobilis  Eulalia,  Eulalia,  noble  by  birth,  but 

Mortis  et  indole  nobilior,  still  nobler  by  lier  death,  was 

E  merit  am  sacra  virgo  suam,  born   at   Merida;    and  this 

Cuius  ab  ubere  progenita  est,  city  the  holy  virgin   adorns 

Ossibus  ornat,  amore  colit.  with  her  relics,  and  cherishes 

with  her  loving  protection. 

Proximus  occiduo  locus  est,  Where  the  sun  sets,  there 

Qui  tulit  hoc  decus  egregium,  lies  the  birth-place  of  this 


DEC.    10.      ST.   EULALIA. 


449 


splendid  heroine  :     it  is    a 

Eowerful  and  populous  city, 
ut  its  proudest  title  to  fame 
is  that  there  the  Saint  shed 
her  blood,  and  there  rests  her 
shrine. 

But  thrice  four  winters  had 
passed  over  Eulalia,  when  she 
braved  the  fierce  tortures  of 
fire,  and  made  her  execu- 
tioners tremble  by  her  cou- 
rage, suffering  as  though  it 
were  sweet  to  suffer. 

Already  had  she  proved  to 
men  that  she  would  have  no 
Spouse  but  God,  and  that 
earthly  nuptials  were  too  poor 
for  her.  Though  but  a  girl, 
she  despised  the  toys  and 
sports  of  children. 

Perfumes  and  wreaths  of 
roses,  and  golden  trinkets,  all 
were  beneath  her.  Her  look 
demure,  her  gait  modest,  her 
whole  conduct,  even  at  that 
tender  age,  as  though  the 
gravity  of  old  age  were  upon 
it. 

But  when  a  rabid  persecu- 
tion began  to  threaten  the 
servants  of  God,  and  the 
Christians  were  commanded 
to  burn  incense  and  the  flesh 
of  victims  before  the  dead 
gods  of  the  pagans, 

Oh!  then  did  Eulalia's  soul 
chafe  within  her,  and  her  high 
spirit  thirst  for  the  battle  ! 
She,  a  girl,  defies  the  threats 
of  men  that  talk  of  war,  for 
her  heart  pants  after  God. 

But  her  fond  mother  trem- 
bles for  her  courageous  child, 
and  insists  on  her  keeping  at 
home.  She  takes  her  into 
the  country,  as  far  as  may  be 
from  the  city,  lest  the  daunt- 


Urbe  potens,   populis  locu- 

ples  : 
Sed  mage  sanguine  martyrii. 
Virgineoque  potens  titulo. 


Curriculis     tribus,    atque 
novem 
Tres  hyemes  quater  attigerat, 
Quum    crepitante  pyra  tre- 

pidos 
Terruit  aspera  carnifices, 
Supplicium  sibi  dulce  rata. 
Jam  dederat    prius    indi- 
cium, 
Tendere  se  Patris  ad  solium, 
ISTec  sua  membra  dicata  toro. 
Ipsa  crepundia  repulerat, 
Ludere  nescia  pusiola. 

Spernere  succina,  flare  ro- 
sas, 
Fulva  monilia  respuere  : 
Ore  severa,  modesta  gradu, 
Moribus  et  nimium  teneris 
Canitiem  meditata  senum. 


Ast  ubi  se  furiata  lues 
Excitat  in  fa'mulos  Domini, 
Christicolasque  cruenta  jubet 
Thura  cremare,  jecur  pecudis 
Mortiferis  adolere  deis. 


Infremuit  sacer  Eulaliae 
Spiritus,  ingeniique  ferox 
Turbida  frangere  bella  parat, 
Et,  rude  pectus  anhela  Deo, 
Feminaprovocat  arma  virum. 

Sed    pia     cura    parentis 

Virgo  animosa  domi  ut  la- 
teat. 

Abdita  rare,  et  ab  urbe  pro- 
cul : 

2G 


450 


ADVENT. 


Ne  fera  sanguinis  in  pretium 
Mortis  amore  puella  mat. 


Ilia  perosa  quietis  opem 
Degeneri  tolerare  mora, 
Nocte  fores  sine  teste  movet, 
Septaque      claustra      fugax 

aperit, 
Inde  per  invia  carpit  iter. 


Ingreditur  pedibus  laceris 
Per  loca  senta  situ,  et  vepri- 

bus, 
Angelico  comitata  choro  : 
Et  licet  horrid  a  nox  sileat, 
Lucis  habettamenilladucem. 

Sic  habuitgenerosapatrum 
Turba  columniferum  radium: 
Scindere  qui  tenebrosa   po- 

tens, 
Nocte  viam  face  perspicua 
Prsestitit,  intereunte  chao. 

Non  aliter  pia  virgo,  viam 
Nocte  secuta,  diem  meruit, 
Nee  tenebris  adoperta  fuit, 
Begna    canopica    quum  fu- 

geret, 
Et  super  astra  pararet  iter. 

Ilia  gradu  cita  pervigili, 
Millia  multa  prius  peragit, 
Quam  plaga  pandat  eoa  po- 

lum  : 
Mane  superba  tribunal  adit, 
Fascibus  adstat  et  in  mediis. 


Vociferans :     Rogo,     quis 

furor  est 
Perdere  prsecipites  animas, 
Et  male  prodiga  corda  sui 
Sternere  rasilibus  scopulis, 
Omnipatremque    negare 

Deum  1 


less  child,  that  longed  to  die 
for  Christ,  should  seek  to 
purchase  that  glory  at  the 
price  of  her  blood. 

She  ill  brooks  this  quiet, 
this  shelter  which  seems  to 
her  so  unchristian  :  the  night 
comes  on  ;  she  is  alone  ;  she 
forces  open  the  doors,  and 
escaping  from  her  inclosure, 
she  tends  she  knows  not 
whither. 

The  paths  are  rugged,  and 
thorns  prick  her  feet  at  every 
step  ;  yet  on  she  goes,  with 
Angels  in  her  company.  All 
is  silent  in  the  dark  grim 
night ;  but  she  has  light 
which  leads  her. 

As  our  fathers,  that  brave 
Hebrew  band,  had  of  old  a 
pillar  of  light,  which  piercing 
the  murky  gloom  of  night, 
led  them  on  by  its  bright 
blaze,  and  turned  darkness 
into  day ; 

So  this  holy  maid  ;  in  her 
midnight  journey,  God  gave 
her  light  ;  and  as  she  fled 
from  the  land  of  Egypt,  to 
enter  into  that  of  heaven,  she 
was  not  hindered  by  the 
darkness. 

Many  a  mile  had  she  walked 
with  her  hasty  step,  before 
the  day-dawn  broke  upon  the 
world  :  and  scarce  had  morn 
begun,  when  there  stood  be- 
fore the  tribunal,  amidst  the 
ensigns  of  the  empire,  the 
fearless  Virgin. 

"What  madness  is  this," 
she  cried,  "  which  makes  you 
"  lose  your  unthinking  souls  1 
"  wasting  away  your  love  in 
"  adoring  these  chiselled 
"  lumps  of  stone,  whilst  you 
"  deny  God  the  Father  of  all] 


DEC.    10.      ST.  EULALIA. 


451 


"O  wretched  men  !  you 
"  are  in  search,  of  the  Ohris- 
"  tians  :  lo  !  I  am  one  ;  I 
"  hate  your  worship  of  devils  : 
"I  trample  on  your  idols; 
"  and  with  heart  and  mouth 
"  I  acknowledge  but  one  God. 

"Isis,  Apollo,  Venus,  all 
"  are  nothing  ;  Maximian, 
"  too,  is  nothing ;  they,  be- 
"  cause  they  are  idols  ;  he, 
"  because  he  worships  idols  ; 
"both  are  vain,  both  are 
"  nothing. 

"  Maximian  calls  himself 
"  lord,  and  yet  he  makes  him- 
"  self  a  slave  of  stones,  ready 
"to  give  his  very  head  to 
"  such  gods.  And  why  does 
"  he  persecute  them  that  have 
"  nobler  hearts  1 

"  This  good  Emperor,  this 
"  most  upright  Judge,  feeds 
"  on  the  blood  of  the  inno- 
"  cent.  He  gluts  himself  on 
"  the  bodies  of  the  saints, 
"  embowelling  those  temples 
"  of  purity,  and  cruelly  in- 
"  suiting  their  holy  faith. 

"  Do  thy  worst,  thou  cruel 
"  butcher  ;  burn,  cut,  tear 
"  asunder  these  clay-made 
"  bodies.  It  is  no  hard  thing 
"  to  break  a  fragile  vase  like 
"this.  But  all  thy  tortures 
"  cannot  reach  the  soul." 

At  these  words  the  Praetor, 
maddening  with  rage,  cried 
out  :  "  Away,  Lictor,  with 
"  this  senseless  prattler,  and 
"punish  her  in  every  way 
"thou  canst.  Teach  her  that 
"  our  country's  gods  are  gods, 
"  and  that  our  sovereign's 
"  words  are  not  to  be  slighted. 


Quaeritis,     O      miseranda 
manus, 
Christicolum  genus  1  En  ego 

sum 
Dsemonicis  inimica  sacris  : 
Tdola  protero,  sub  pedibus  : 
Pectore,  et  ore  Deum  fateor. 
Isis,   Apollo,  Venus,  nihil 
est. 
Maximianus  et  ipse  nihil  : 
Ilia  nihil,  quia  facta  manu  : 
Hie  manuum  quia  facta  co- 
lit  : 
Frivola  utraque,  et   utraque 
nihil. 
Maximianus   opum  domi- 
nus, 
Et  tamen  ipse  cliens  lapidum, 
Prostituat,  voveatque  suis 
Numinibus  caput  ipse  suum  : 
Pectora  cur  generosa  quatit  1 

Dux  bonus,  arbiter   egre- 
gius 
Sanguine  pascitur  innocuo  : 
Corporibusque  piis  inhians 
Viscera  sobria  dilacerat, 
Gaudet  et  excruciare  fidem. 


Ergo  age,   tortor,   adure, 
seca, 
Divide  membra  coacta  luto. 
Solvere  rem  fragilem  facile 

est : 
Non  penetrabitur  interior 
Exagitante  dolore  animus. 
Talibus  excitus  in  furias 
Praetor,  ait :   Rape  prsecipi- 

tem, 
Lictor,  et  obrue  suppliciis  : 
Sentiat.  esse  deos  patrios, 
Nee  leve  principis  imperium. 


452 


ADVENT. 


Quam  cuperem  tamen  ante 

necem, 
Si  potis  est,  revocare  tuam, 
Torva  puellula,  nequitiam ! 
Respice,  gaudia  quanta  nie- 

tas, 
Quae  tibi  fert  genialis  honor. 

Te  lacryniis  labefacta  do- 
mus 
Prosequitur,  generisque  tni 
Ingemit  anxia  nobilitas, 
Flore  quod  occidis  in  tenero, 
Proxima  dotibus  et  thalanio. 

]STon  movet  aurea  pomp  a 
tori, 
Non  pietas  veneranda  senuni 
Quos  temeraria  debilitas  ] 
Ecce  parata  ministeria 
Excruciabilis  exitii. 


Aut  gladio  feriere  caput, 
Aut  laniabere  membra  feris, 
Aut  facibus  data  fumificis, 
Flebiliterque  ululanda  tuis 
In  cineres  resoluta  flues. 


Hsec,  rogo,  quis  labor  est 
f  ugere  1 
Si  modicum  salis  eminulis 
Tharis  et  exiguum  digitis 
Tangere,  virgo,  benigna  velis, 
Poena  gravis  procul  abfuerit. 


Martyr  ad  ista  nihil  :  sed 
enim 

Infremit,  inque  tyrrani  ocu- 
los 

Sputa  jacit.  Simulacra  de- 
hinc 

Dissipat,  impositamque  mo- 
lam 

Thuribulis  pede  prosubigit. 


"Yet  stay,  rash  girl  ! 
"Would  I  could  persuade 
"thee  to  recall  thy  impious 
"  words  before  it  is  too  late  I 
"  Think  on  all  the  joys  thou 
"  thus,  wilt  obtain  ;  think  on 
"  that  noble  marriage  which 
"  we  will  procure  thee. 

"Thy  family  is  in  search 
"  of  thee,  and  thy  noble  house 
"weeps  and  grieves  after 
"  thee,  their  tender  floweret 
"  so  near  its  prime,  yet  so  re- 
"  solved  to  wither. 

"  What  !  are  nuptials  like 
"  these  I  offer  not  enough  to 
"  move  thee  1  Wilt  thou  send 
"the  grey  hairs  of  thy  parents 
"  into  the  tomb  by  thy  rash  dis- 
"  obedience  %  Tremble  at  least 
"  at  all  these  fearful  instru- 
"  ments  of  torture  and  death. 

"  There  is  a  sword  which 
"  will  sever  thy  head  ;  there 
"are  wild  beasts  to  tear  thee 
"  to  pieces  ;  there  are  fires  on 
"  which  to  burn  thee,  leaving 
"  to  thy  family  but  thy  ashes 
"  to  weep  over. 

"  And  what  do  we  ask  of 
"thee  in  order  that  thou 
"mayest  escape  these  tor- 
"  tures  ?  Do,  I  beseech  thee, 
"  Eulalia,  touch  but  with  the 
"tip  of  thy  finger  these 
"  grains  of  salt  and  incense, 
"  and  not  a  hair  of  thy  head 
"  shall  be  hurt." 

The  Martyr  answered  him 
not  :  but  full  of  indignation, 
spat  in  the  tyrant's  face ; 
then,  with  her  foot,  upsets 
idols,  cakes,  and  incense. 


DEC.   10.      ST.    EULALIA. 


453 


Scarce  had  she  done  it,  two 
executioners  seize  her  :  they 
tear  her  youthful  breast,  and, 
one  on  each  side,  cut  off  her 
innocent  flesh  even  to  the 
very  ribs.  Eulalia  counts 
each  gash,  and  says  : 

"  See,  dear  Jesus,  they 
"  write  thee  on  my  flesh  ! 
"  Beautiful  letters,  that  tell 
"  of  thy  victory  !  O,  how  I 
"  love  to  read  them  !  So, 
"  this  red  stream  of  my  blood 
"  speaks  thy  holy  name  P 

Thus  sang  the  joyous  and 
intrepid  virgin  ;  not  a  tear, 
not  a  moan.  The  sharp  tor- 
tures reach  not  her  souL 
Her  body  is  all  stained  with 
the  fresh  blood,  and  the  warm 
stream  trickles  down  the 
snow-white  skin. 

But  this  was  not  the  end. 
It  was  not  enough  to  plough 
and  harrow  up  her  flesh  :  it 
was  time  to  burn  :  torches, 
then,  are  applied  to  her  sides 
and  breast. 

Her  beateous  locks  dish- 
evelled fell  veiling  her  from 
worse  than  all  their  butchery, 
the  stare  of  these  wretches. 


The  crackling  flame  mounts 
to  her  face,  and,  running 
through  her  hair,  surrounds 
and  blazes  over  her  head. 
The  virgin,  thirstingfor  death, 
opens  her  mouth  and  drinks 
it  in. 

Suddenly  is  seen  a  snow- 
white  dove  coming  from  the 
martyr's  mouth,  and  flying  up 


Nee   mora,    carnifices   ge- 
mini 

Juncea  pectora  dilacerant, 

Et  latus  ungula  virgineum 

Pulsat  utrinque,  et  ad  ossa 
secat, 

Eulalia  numerante  notas. 
Seriberis    ecce  mihi,   Do- 
mine, 

Quam  juvat  hos  apices  legere, 

Qui  tua,  Christe,  trophea  no- 
tant ! 

Nomen  et  ipsa  sacrum  loqui- 
tur 

Purpura  sanguinis  eliciti. 
Haec   sine  fletibus,  et  ge- 
mitu 

Lseta  canebat,  et  intrepida. 

Dims  abest  dolor  ex  animo. 

Membraque      picta      cruore 
novo 

Fonte  cutem  recalente  lavant. 

Ultima  carnificina  dehinc, 
Non  laceratio  vulnifica 
Grate  tenus  nee  arata  cutis  : 
Flamma   sed   undique  1am- 

padibus 
In     latera,     stomachumque 
furit. 
Crinis  odorus  et  in  jugu- 
los 
Fluxerat,  involitans  humeris, 
Quo  pudibunda  pudicitia, 
Virgine  usque  lateret  honos, 
Tegmine  verticis  opposito. 
Flamma  crepans  volat   in 
faciem, 
Perque  comas  vegetata,  caput 
Occupat,   exsuperatque  api- 

cem  : 
Virgo,  citum  cupiens  obitum, 
Appetit,  et  bibit  ore  rogum. 
Emicat  inde  columba  re- 
pens, 
Martyris  os  nive  candidior 


454* 


ADVENT. 


Visa    relinquere,    et     astra 

sequi : 
Spirit  us  hie  erat  Eulaliae 
Lacteolus,  celer,  innoouus. 
Colla  fluunt,  abeante  ani- 

ma, 
Et  rogus  igneus  emoritur  ; 
Pax  datur  artubus  exanimis, 
Flatus    in     sethera    plaudit 

ovans, 
Templaque  celsa  petit  volu- 

cer. 
Vidit      et     ipse      satelles 

avem 
Feminae  ab  ore  meare  palam, 
Obstupefactus,  et  attonitus 
Prosilit,  et  sua  gesta  fugit, 
Lictor  et  ipse  fugit  pavidus. 

Ecce  nivem  glacialis  hyems 
Ingerit,  et  tegit  omne  forum  : 
Membra  tegit  simul  Eulaliae, 
Axe  jacentia  sub  gelido, 
Pallioli  vice  linteoli. 

Cedat  amor  lacrymantum 
hominum, 
Qui  celebrare  suprema  solent, 
Flebile  cedat  et  ofiicium  : 
Ipsa  elementa,  jubente  Deo, 
Exsequias  tibi,  virgo,  ferunt. 

.   Nunc    locus    Emerita  est 

tumulo 
Clara  colonia  Vettonise  : 
Quam     memorabilis     amnis 

Ana 
Prseterit,  et  viridante  rapax 
Gurgite  msenia  pulchra  lav  it. 
Hie,  ubi  marmore  perspi- 

cuo 
Atria  luminat  alma  nitor 
Et  peregrinus,  et  indigena, 
Relliquias,     ciueresque      sa- 

cros 
Servat  humus  veneranda  sinu. 


to  heaven.  It  was  Eulalia's 
spirit,  spotless,  eager,  inno- 
cent. 

Her  soul  is  fled  :  her  head 
droops,  the  fire  dies  out :  her 
lifeless  body  sleeps  in  peace, 
while  her  glad  spirit  keeps 
feast  in  its  ethereal  home,  and 
this  sweet  dove  rests  in  the 
house  of  her  most  High  God. 

The  executioners,  too,  see 
the  dove  issuing  from  the 
martyr's  mouth  :  astonished 
and  trembling  they  flee  from 
the  spot.  The  lictor,  too,  is 
seized  with  fear  and  takes  to 
flight. 

JTis  winter,  and  the  snow 
in  thick  flakes  falls  on  the 
forum,  covering  the  tender 
corpse  of  Eulalia,  which  lay 
stiffening  in  the  cold,  with  its 
fair  pall  of  crystal. 

Ye  men  that  mourn  at  fu- 
nerals, weeping  and  sobbing 
out  your  love  for  the  dead, 
ye  are  not  needed  here  :  give 
place.  God  bids  his  elements, 
O  Eulalia,  do  the  honours  of 
thy  exequies. 

Her  tomb  is  now  at  Me- 
rida,  illustrious  city  of  Vet- 
tonia,  whose  beautiful  walls 
are  washed  by  the  swift  green 
waters  of  Ana,  that  cele- 
brated stream. 

'Tis  there,  in  a  temple  rich 
with  its  polished  marbles, 
both  of  Spain  and  foreign 
lands,  that  repose  in  a  vener- 
able tomb  the  holy  relics  of 
the  martyr. 


DEC.    10.      ST.    EULALIA. 


455 


The  roof,  above,  glitters 
with  its  golden  pendents  ; 
and  the  pavement,  with  its 
mosaics,  looks  like  a  meadow 
strewed  with  the  gayest 
flowers. 

Cull  the  purple  violet,  and 
the  golden  crocus,  which  even 
winter  spares  us,  and  with  its 
hours  of  sunshine  lets  our 
fields  yield  plentifully  enough 
to  deck  our  Eulalia's  altar. 

Twine  them  into  your  green 
garlands,  and  these  be  your 
offering,  dear  children  !  Mine 
shall  be  these  verses  for  our 
choir  ;  poor  I  know  they  are 
and  savouring  of  the  dulness 
of  my  own  old  age ;  still,  they 
suit  a  feast. 

Thus  will  we  venerate  Eu- 
lalia's relics  and  Eulalia's 
altar  :  she,  standing  before 
the  throne  of  God,  will  be 
pleased  with  our  offerings, 
and  hearing  our  hymns  and 
prayers  will  protect  her  de- 
voted people. 


Tecta  corusca  super  ruti- 
lant 
De  laquearibus  aureolis, 
Saxaque  caesa  solum  variant, 
Floribus  ut  rosulenta  putes 
Prata  rubescere  multimodis. 
Carpite  purpureas  violas, 
Sanguineosque  crocos  meti- 

tite  : 
Non  caret  his  genialis  hyems, 
Laxat  et  arva  tepens  glacies, 
Floribus  ut  cumulet  calathos. 

Ista  comantibus  e  foliis 
Munera,  virgo,  puerque,date: 
Ast   ego  serta  choro  in  me- 
dio 
Texta  feram  pedo  dactylico, 
Vilia,  marcida,  festa  tarn  en. 


Sic  venerarier  ossa  libet, 
Ossibns  altar  et  impositum  : 
Ilia  Dei  sita  sub  pedibus 
Prospicit    hsec,    populosque 

suos 
Carmine  propitiata  fovet. 


Nothing  can  surpass  the  magnificence  of  the  prayers 
of  the  Missal  and  Breviary  of  the  Mozarabic  Liturgy 
for  this  feast.  Out  of  a  score  of  examples  which  we 
could  here  insert,  we  select,  almost  at  hazard,  two  from 
the  Missal ;  but  they  will  give  only  a  faint  idea  of  the 
eloquence  with  which  the  love  for  her  Martyr  Eulalia 
inspired  this  ancient  Church  of  Spain. 


PEAYEE. 

Let  virginity  be  glad  in 
thee,  O  Lord,  we  beseech 
thee  ;  and  with  it  let  rejoice 
its  sister- virtue  of  continency. 
Battles  like  these  are  won  not 
by  sex  but  by  courage  ;  not 


OEATIO. 

Laetetur  in  te,  Domine, 
quseso  virginitas  :  et  huic 
proxima  congaudeat  conti- 
nentia.  Non  sexum  quaerunt 
hujus  modi  bella  :  sed  ani- 
mum.    Non    mucronis  con- 


456 


ADVENT. 


fidentiam,  sed  pudoris.  Non 
etiam  personas  discussuras, 
sed  causas.  Impune  inter  ar- 
matas  transit  acies  innocens 
conscientia :  quae  superavit 
crimina,  superat  et  metalla. 
Facile  vincit  alios  quisquis  se 
vicerit ;  et  cum  laudabile  sit 
viro  fecisse  virtutem,  majoris 
tamen  praeconii  est  fecisse 
virginem  rem  virilem.  Pro- 
phanum  sacra  ingreditur  pu- 
ella  concilium  :  et  sol  am 
Deum  in  pectore  gestans  in- 
f ert  violentiam  passioni.  Nee 
deest  lictor  tarn  impudens 
quam  crudelis  :  qui  sponsam 
(secure  dixerim)  Christi,  for- 
nicantium  verberibus  ocu- 
lorum,  supplicio  libidinante 
torqueret :  ut  qua3  pcenas  in 
adulterio  non  luebat,  saltern 
poenas  adulteras  sustineret. 
Dudumquodgravius  carnifex 
putat,  exspectantium  oculis 
corpus  exponit,  et  per  divari- 
catas  viscerum  partes,  ictuum 
sulcos  cursus  fusi  sanguinis 
antecedit.  Periit  tunc  tor- 
toris  iniqui  commentum : 
sola  patiuntur  tormenta  ludi- 
brium.  Habet  quidem  vir- 
ginem nostram  nuditas,  sed 
pudicam.  Discat  ergo,  discat 
uterque  sexus  ex  virgine,  non 
pulchritudinem  colere,  sed 
virtutem  :  fidem  amare,  non 
formam.  Placiturus  Domino, 
non  decoris  exspectare  judi- 
cium, sed  pudoris.  Sed  quia 
tuum  est,  Christe,  totum  quod 
meruit :  tuum  etiam  quod 
peregit.  Nee  enim  tela  re- 
pellimus  adversantium,  nisi 
tu£e  divinitatis  beneficio  sub- 
levemur.  Nunc  praesta  nobis, 


by  them  that  can  well  wield 
the  sword,  but  by  them  that 
can  be  chaste  ;  not  by  the 
combatant's  title,  but  by  his 
motive.  An  innocent  con- 
science fears  not  an  armed 
legion.  He  that  has  van- 
quished sin,  will  not  flinch  at 
a  sword.  He  that  has  con- 
quered himself,  easily  con- 
quers others  :  and  if  it  be 
praiseworthy  when  a  man 
does  a  virtuous  act,  it  is  more 
so  when  a  virgin  does  a  manly 
deed.  The  holy  virgin  Eu- 
lalia  stands  before  a  tribunal 
of  ungodly  men;  and  with 
God  alone  in  her  heart,  she 
bids  defiance  to  all  their  tor- 
tures. There  comes  a  Lictor 
as  lustful  as  he  is  cruel :  he 
punishes  this  spouse  of  Christ 
as  we  may  indeed  call  her, 
by  the  torture  of  his  impure 
looks  ;  and  she  that  could 
have  no  adultery  to  atone  for, 
suffered  its  punishment  from 
him  that  had.  He  reserves 
to  the  last  what  he  knew  was 
the  worst  ;  he  exposes  her 
body  to  the  gaze  of  the  spec- 
tators, and  the  stream  of  blood 
from  the  open  gashes  on  her 
sides  stains  her  flesh  before 
the  knife  can  open  deeper 
wounds.  Then  was  con- 
founded the  design  of  the 
wicked  tormentor,  and  his 
torments  are  insulted  by  the 
victim.  Impiety  strips  our 
Martyr,  but  modesty  veils 
her.  Let  all,  then,  learn  from 
this  virgin  to  cultivate  not 
beauty  but  virtue,  nor  form 
but  faith.  He  that  would 
please  the  Lord  must  be  tried 


DEC.    10.      ST.   EULALIA. 


457 


not  for  how  much  comeliness 
he  possesses,  but  for  how 
much  modesty  he  has.  And 
yet,  O  Jesus  !  since  it  was 
from  thee  that  Eulalia  had 
all  her  merits,  and  from  thee 
all  that  she  achieved,  (for  it 
is  in  vain  that  we  would  repel 
the  darts  of  our  enemies,  un- 
less we  be  shielded  by  thy 
divine  mercy) ;  grant,  we  be- 
seech thee,  that,  as  this  thy 
most  holy  martyr  won,  by 
her  combat,  the  reward  of 
chastity,  we  also  may  be  for- 
given the  uncleanness  of  our 
sins,  and  obtain  the  rewards 
thou  hast  promised. 


ut  sicut  haec  beatissima  Mar- 
tyr tua  pugnando  praemium 
adepta  est  castitatis  ;  ita  nos 
commissorum  nostrorum  ad 
te  dimissis  contagiis,  adipis- 
camur  praemia  tuae  promis- 
sionis. 


ILLATION". 

It  is  meet  and  just  that  we 
give  thee  thanks,  O  Lord,  our 
God  !  who  hast  raised  to  the 
highest  glory  this  most  wise 
virgin  that  was  loyal  to  the 
faith.  Thus  didst  thou,  that 
madest  Mary  be  the  Mother 
of  Jesus,  make  Eulalia  be  a 
Martyr  of  Jesus.  The  Mother 
was  happy  in  giving  him 
birth  ;  the  Martyr  in  giving 
him  her  life.  The  Mother 
ministered  to  his  Incarna- 
tion ;  the  Martyr  imitated 
his  Passion.  Mary  believed 
the  Angel  that  appeared  to 
her ;  Eulalia  withstood  the 
enemy  that  tormented  her. 
Mary  was  chosen  by  whom 
Christ  should  be  born ;  Eu- 
lalia was  elected  by  whom 
the  devil  should  be  con- 
quered. Eulalia,  the  Martyr 
and  Virgin,  was  indeed  wor- 
thy to  please  her  Lord,  for, 
by  the  protection  of  the  Holy 


ILLATIO. 

Dignum  et  justum  est,  Do- 
mine  Deus,  qui  tarn  pruden- 
tem  virginem  fidei  sociatam 
apice  gloriae  consecrasti,  tibi 
gratias  agere  :  Ut  per  quern 
facta  est  mater  Maria,  fieret 
Martyr  Eulalia  :  ilia  pariendi 
affectu  felix,  ista  moriendi. 
Ilia  implens  Incarnationis 
officium,  ista  rapiens  passionis 
exemplum  :  ilia  crecliclit  An- 
gelo,  ista  resistit  inimico. 
Ilia  electa  per  quam  Christus 
nasceretur :  ista  assumpta 
per  quam  diabolus  vincere- 
tur.  Digna  re  Eulalia  Mar- 
tyr et  Virgo  placitura  Do- 
mino suo :  quae,  Spiritu 
Sancto  protegente,  tenero 
sexu  bellum  forte  sudaverit  : 
et  ultra  opinionem  humanae 
virtutis  ad  tolerantiam  poe- 
narum  zelo  tui  amoris  se 
obtulerit :  quum  in  specie 
pretiosi  Unigeniti  tui  san- 
guinem  suum  sub  testimonio 


458 


ADVENT. 


bonse  confessionis  effuderit : 
et  incorrapta  liammis  viscera 
in  odorem  suavissimi  thy- 
miamatis  adoleverit.  Vadit 
ad  tribunal  cruenti  praesidis, 
non  qusesita.  In  qua  tarn 
solum  fuit  animus  inconti- 
nens  ad  secretum,  quam  locus 
competens  ad  triumphum. 
Lucratura  re^imm,  contemp- 
tura  supplicium,  inventura 
qusesitum,  visura  confessum. 
Non  trepida  de  poena,  non 
ambigua  de  corona,  non  de- 
fessa  de  equuleo,  non  diffisa 
de  praemio.  Interrogatur, 
confitetur,  occiditur,  corona- 
tur.  Ingentique  miraculo 
majestas  tua  exhalatum  Vir- 
ginis  spiritum,  quern  assump- 
sit per  flammam,  suscepit  per 
columbam.  Ut  hoc  prodigio 
in  ccelis  Martyr  ascenderet, 
quo  in  terris  Filium  Pater 
ostenderet.  Siquidem  nee 
inhonorum  patiuntur  ele- 
menta  corpusculum,  quod 
deciduis  nix  aspersa  velle- 
ribus,  et  virtutis  rigorem  et 
virginitatis  tecta  candorem 
eluceret,  vestiret,  absconde- 
ret.  Superni  velaminis  ope- 
rimento,  ccelum  funeri  prses- 
tat  exsequias,  et  per  miseri- 
cordiam  Redemptoris  daret 
animse  sedem  pro  sepultura 
redderit  dignitatem. 


Ghost,  she,  a  young  maiden, 
waged  a  fierce  war  ;  she,  that 
with  more  than  human 
strength,  made  herself,  for 
thy  love,  a  victim  of  suffering; 
she,  that  for  the  sake  of  thy 
beloved  Son,  shed  her  blood 
in  the  noble  confession  of  her 
faith,  and  offered  to  him,  as 
a  fragrance  of  sweetest 
incense,  the  flesh  which  fire 
could  not  consume.  She 
goes  unbidden  to  the  tribunal 
of  the  cruel  persecutor.  As 
fit  as  was  the  place  for  a 
triumph,  so  bold  was  her 
spirit  to  speak  the  secret  of 
her  faith.  She  wants  a  king- 
dom, she  cares  not  for  tor- 
tures, she  would  find  Him 
she  longs  for,  she .  would  see 
Him  that  she  confesses. 
Fearless  of  pain,  certain  of  a 
crown,  happy  on  her  rack, 
hopeful  of  her  prize.  She  is 
questioned,  she  confesses  ; 
men  put  her  to  death,  God 
gives  her  the  crown.  By  an  ad- 
mirable miracle,  the  Virgin's 
spirit,  which  thy  divine  Ma- 
jesty didst  draw  from  its 
prison  by  a  flame,  thou  didst 
take  to  thyself  as  a  Dove  ; 
thus,  under  the  same  symbol 
whereby  thou  didst  show  thy 
Son  to  the  earth,  did  thy 
Martyr  ascend  into  heaven. 
Neither  did  the  elements 
withhold  their  homage  ;  but 
over  her  body,  which  remain- 
ed on  the  earth,  they  form  a 
snowy  canopy,  that  beauti- 
fies, and  covers,  and  hides 
that  body  where  there  had 
ever  been  the  inflexibility  of 
virtue  and  the  unsullied  lily 


DEC.    10.      ST.    ETJLALIA.  459 


of  virginity.  Whilst  thus 
her  body  lay  palled  in  the 
coverlet  of  heaven's  making1, 
her,  soul  was  placed,  by  the 
niercy  of  our  Redeemer,  on 
its  throne.  Rich  compensa- 
tion for  the  burial  which  men 
denied  her  S 


And  we  too,  O  glorious  Martyr,  would  join  our 
humble  praises  with  these  sublime  expressions  of  the 
Church's  love  for  thee.  The  love  of  Jesus  so  filled 
thy  heroic  soul,  that  torments  could  not  torture  thee; 
nay,  they  satisfied  thy  love  by  giving  thee  to  suffer 
for  him,  until  thy  whole  heart  should  be  filled  by 
possessing  him.  And  yet,  with  all  this  ardour  which 
heeds  no  obstacle,  with  all  this  noble  daring  which 
makes  thee  confront  a  tyrant  and  a  furious  rabble, 
nothing  is  more  gentle  and  meek  than  thy  loving 
spirit.  Pray  for  us  to  Him  who  made  thee  thus 
worthy  to  be  his  Spouse,  that  we  also  may  be  coura- 
geous in  the  fight  against  the  enemies  of  our  salvation, 
and  full  of  that  tender  love  for  Jesus  which  can 
alone  preserve  us  from  hardness  and  pride  of  heart. 

O  thou,  the  glory  of  Iberia  !  O  Dove  of  Peace, 
have  pity  on  that  Catholic  land  which  prepared  thee 
for  heaven.  Suffer  not  that  the  ancient  faith  grow 
dim  in  a  country  which,  for  ages,  stood  so  prominent 
in  the  Catholic  Church,  as  the  faithful  and  fervent 
Spain.  Pray  for  her,  that  the  days  of  her  trial  may 
be  shortened;  that  God  may  bring  to  nought  the 
sacrilegious  attempts  of  men,  who  have  sworn  to 
destroy  his  kingdom  on  earth  ;  that  he  give  to  the 
clergy  of  Spain  the  courage  and  energy  of  former 
days ;  that  he  render  fruitful  the  blood  of  her 
martyrs,  who  have  already  suffered ;  that  he  take 
away  those  scandals,  which  so  readily  mislead  the 
simple  and  the  weak  ;  and  lastly,  that  he  efface  not 
thy  beloved   Spain   from   the   number  of  Catholic 


460 


ADVENT. 


nations,  but  spare,  for  the  sake  of  the  fathers,  those 
among  her  children  that  are  degenerate. 


RESPONSORY  OF  ADVENT. 

(Ambrosian  Breviary,  Fourth  Sunday  of  Advent.) 


1$.  Per  Gabrielis  Angeli 
os,  nunciatum  est  Virgini 
Marise,  et  Verbum  concepit 
e  ccelo  :  *  Et  ilium  suseepit 
modicus  uterus,  cui  parvus 
fuerat  mundus.  ft.  Spiritus 
Sanctus  in  te  ingredietur, 
et  virtus  Altissimi  obumbra- 
bit  tibi :  *  Et  ilium  suseepit 
modicus  uterus,  cui  parvus 
fuerat  mundus. 


3^.  A  message  was  an- 
nounced to  the  Virgin  Mary 
by  the  mouth  of  the  Angel 
Gabriel  ;  and  she  conceived 
the  Word  from  heaven  : 
*  And  the  womb  of  a  tender 
Virgin  contained  Him,  whom 
the  world  was  too  little  to 
contain,  ft.  The  Holy  Ghost 
shall  enter  within  thee,  and 
the  power  of  the  Most  High 
shall  overshadow  thee :  * 
And  the  womb  of  a  tender 
Virgin  contained  Him,  whom 
the  world  was  too  little  to 
contain. 


DEC.  11.      ST.  DAMASUS.  461 


December  11. 
SAINT   DAMASUS,  POPE  AND  CONFESSOR 


This  great  Pontiff  comes  before  us  in  the  Liturgical 
Year,  not  to  bring  us  tidings  of  Peace,  as  St.  Mel- 
chiades  did,  but  as  one  of  the  most  illustrious  de- 
fenders of  the  great  Mystery  of  the  Incarnation.  He 
defends  the  faith  of  the  Universal  Church  in  the 
divinity  of  the  Word,  by  condemning,  as  his  pre- 
decessor Liberius  had  done,  the  acts  and  the  authors 
of  the  celebrated  Council  of  Rimini.  With  his 
sovereign  authority,  he  bears  witness  to  the  teaching 
of  the  Church  regarding  the  Humanity  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  condemned  the  heretic  Apollinaris,  who 
taught  that  Jesus  Christ  had  only  assumed  the  flesh 
and  not  the  soul  of  man.  He  commissioned  St. 
Jerome  to  make  a  new  translation  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament from  the  Greek,  for  the  use  of  the  Church  of 
Rome ;  here,  again,  giving  a  further  proof  of  the 
faith  and  love  which  he  bore  to  the  Incarnate  Word. 
Let  us  honour  this  great  Pontiff,  whom  the  Council 
of  Chalcedon  calls  the  ornament  and  support  of 
Home  by  his  piety.  St.  Jerome,  too,  who  looked 
upon  St.  Damasus  as  his  friend  and  patron,  calls  him 
a  man  of  the  greatest  worth ;  a  man  whose  equal 
could  not  be  found,  vjell  versed  in  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures, and  a  virgin  Doctor  of  the  virgin  Church. 
The  Legend  of  the  Breviary  gives  us  a  brief  account 
of  his  life. 

Damasus  was  a  Spaniard,  Damasus  Hispanus,  vir 
a  man  of  highest  worth,  and  egregius  et  eruditus  in  Scrip- 
learned   in    the   Scriptures,    turis,  indicto  primo  Constan- 


462 


ADVENT. 


tinopolitano  Concilio,  nefe- 
riam  Eunomii  et  Macedonii 
liaeresim  exstinxit.  Idem 
Ariminensem  conventum  a 
Liberio  jam  ante  rejectum, 
iterum  condemnavit :  in  quo, 
ut  scribit  sanctus  Hierony- 
mus,  Valentis  potissinmm 
et  Ursascii  fraudibus  dam- 
natio  Nicenae  fidei  concla- 
mata  fuit,  et  ingemiscens 
orbis  terrarum,  se  Arianum 
esse  miratus  est. 


Basilicas  duas  sediflcavit ; 
alteram  sancti  Laurentii  no- 
mine ad  theatrum  Pompeii, 
quam  maximis  muneribus 
auxit,  eique  domos,  et  prse- 
dia  attribuit :  alteram  via 
Ardeatina  ad  Catacumbas. 
Platoniam  etiam,  ubi  cor- 
pora sanctorum  Petri  et 
Pauli  aliquandiu  jacuerunt, 
dedicavit,  et  exornavit  ele- 
gantibus  versibus.  Idemque 
prosa,  et  versn  scripsit  de 
Virginitate,  multaque  alia 
metro  edidit. 


Pcenam  talionis  constitnit 
iis,  qui  alteram  falsi  criminis 
accusassent.  Statuit,  ut 
quod  pluribus  jam  locis  erat 
in  usu,  Psalmi  per  omnes 
Ecclesias  die  noctuque  ab 
alternis  canerentur ;  et  in 
fine  cujusque  Psalmi  dicere- 
tur  Gloria  Patri,  et  Filio,  et 
Spiritui  Sancto.     Ejus  jussu 


He  called  the  first  Council  of 
Constantinople,  in  which  he 
condemned  the  impious 
heresy  of  Eunomius  and 
Macedonius.  He  also  con- 
demned the  Council  of  Ri- 
mini, which  had  already 
been  rejected  by  Liberius, 
inasmuch  as  it  was  in  this 
assembly  of  Rimini,  as  St. 
Jerome  tells  us,  that  mainly 
by  the  craft  of  Valens  and 
Ursascius,  was  published  a 
condemnation  of  the  faith 
which  had  been  taught  by 
the  Nicene  Council,  and 
thus  the  whole  world  grieved 
to  find  itself  made  Arian. 

He  built  two  Basilicas ; 
one  dedicated  to  St.  Lau- 
rence, near  Pompey's  theatre, 
and  this  he  endowed  with 
magnificent  presents,  with 
houses  and  with  lands  :  the 
other,  on  the  Ardeatine  Way, 
at  the  Catacombs.  The 
bodies  of  SS.  Peter  and 
Paul  lay  for  some  time  in  a 
place  richly  adorned  with 
marbles ;  this  place  he  de- 
dicated, and  composed  for  it 
several  inscriptions  in  beau- 
tiful verses.  He  also  wrote 
on  Virginity,  both  in  prose 
and  verse,  and  several  other 
poems. 

He  established  the  law  of 
retaliation  for  cases  of  false 
accusation.  He  decreed  that, 
as  was  the  custom  in  many 
places,  the  Psalms  should  be 
sung  in  all  churches  in  alter- 
nate choirs,  day  and  night ; 
and  that  at  the  end  of  each 
Psalm,  there  should  be 
added  :     Glory    be    to    tlie 


DEC.    11.      ST.   DAMASUS. 


463 


Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and 
to  the  Holy  Ghost.  It  was 
by  his  order  that  St.  Jerome 
translated  the  New  Testa- 
ment from  the  Greek  text. 
He  governed  the  Church 
seventeen  years,  two  months, 
and  twenty  days  ;  and  five 
times  during  this  period,  he 
gave  Ordinations,  in  the 
month  of  December,  to 
thirty-one  Priests,  eleven 
Deacons,  and  sixty-two 
Bishops,  for  divers  places. 
Conspicuous  for  his  virtue, 
learning,  and  prudence,  and 
having  Jived  little  short  of 
eighty  years,  he  slept  in  the 
Lord,  during  the  reign  of 
Theodosius  the  Great.  He 
was  buried  in  the  Basilica 
which  he  had  built  on  the 
Ardeatine  Way,  where  also 
lay  his  mother  and  sister. 
His  relics  were  afterwards 
translated  to  the  Church  of 
Saint  Laurence,  called  after 
him,  St.  Laurence's  in  Da- 
maso. 


sanctus  Hieronimus  novum 
Testamentum  Graecse  fidei 
reddidit.  Quum  Ecclesiam 
rexisset  annos  decern  et 
septem,  menses  duos,  dies 
viginti,  et  habuisset  Ordina- 
tiones  quinque  mense  De- 
cembri,  quibus  creavit  Pres- 
byteros  triginta  unum,  Dia- 
conos  undecim,  Episcopos 
per  diversa  lex  sexaginta 
duos ;  virtute,  doctrina,  ac 
prudentia  clarus,  prope  octo- 
genarius,  Theodosio  seniore 
imperante,  obdormivit  in 
Domino,  et  via  Ardeatina 
una  cum  matre  et  sorore 
sepultus  est  in  Basilica, 
quam  ipse  sedificaverat.  II- 
lius  reliquiae  postea  trans- 
latse  sunt  in  ecclesiam  sancti 
Laurentii,  ab  ejus  nomine  in 
Damaso  vocatam. 


Holy  Pontiff  Damasus !  during  thy  life  on  earth, 
thou  wast  the  Light,  which  guided  the  children  of 
the  Church  ;  for  thou  didst  teach  them  the  mystery 
of  the  Incarnation,  and  didst  guard  them  against 
those  perfidious  doctrines,  wherewith  hell  ever  strives 
to  corrupt  that  glorious  Symbol  of  our  faith,  which 
tells  us  of  God's  infinite  mercy  towards  us,  and  of  the 
sublime  dignity  of  man  thus  mercifully  redeemed. 
Seated  on  the  Chair  of  Peter,  thou  didst  confirm  thy 
brethren,  and  thy  faith  failed  not ;  for  Jesus  had 
prayed  to  his  Father  for  thee.  We  rejoice  at  the 
infinite  recompense  with  which  this  divine  Prince  of 
Pastors  has  rewarded   the  unsullied   purity   of  thy 


464  ADVENT. 

faith,  0  thou  virgin  Doctor  of  the  virgin  Church ! 
O  that  we  could  have  a  ray  of  that  light  which  now 
enables  thee  to  see  Jesus  in  his  glory  !  Pray  for  us, 
that  we  may  have  light  to  see  him,  and  know  him, 
and  love  him  under  the  humble  guise  in  which  he  is 
so  soon  to  appear  to  us.  Obtain  for  us  the  science  of 
the  sacred  Scriptures,  in  which  thou  wast  so  great  a 
Master;  and  docility  to  the  teachings  of  the  Bishop 
of  Rome,  to  whom,  in  the  person  of  St.  Peter,  Christ 
has  said :  Launch  out  into  the  deep  I1 

Obtain  also  for  all  Christians,  0  thou  the  successor 
of  this  Prince  of  the  Apostles,  that  they  be  animated 
with  those  sentiments,  which  St.  Jerome  thus  de- 
scribes in  one  of  his  letters  addressed  to  thee  :  "  It  is 
"  the  Chair  of  Peter  that  I  will  consult,  for  from  it  do 
"  I  derive  that  faith,  which  is  the  food  of  my  soul.  I 
"  will  search  for  this  precious  pearl,  heeding  not  the 
"  vast  expanse  of  sea  and  land  which  I  must  pass 
"  over.  Where  the  body  is,  there  shall  the  eagles  be 
"  gathered  together.  It  is  now  in  the  West  that  the 
"  Sun  of  justice  rises.  I  ask  the  Victim  of  salvation 
"  from  the  Priest,  and  from  the  Shepherd  the  pro- 
"  tection  of  the  sheep.  On  that  rock  I  know  the 
"  Church  is  built.  He  that  eats  the  Lamb  in  any 
"  house  but  this,  is  profane.  He  that  is  not  in 
"  Noah's  Ark,  shall  perish  in  the  waters  of  the  deluge. 
"  I  know  not  Yitalis,  I  reject  Meletius,  I  pass  by 
"  Paulinus.  He  that  gathers  not  with  thee,  Damasus, 
"  scatters ;  for  he  that  is  not  of  Christ,  is  of  Anti- 
"  Christ." 


Let  us  contemplate  our  divine  Saviour  in  the 
womb  of  his  most  holy  Mother  Mary.  Let  us,  to- 
gether with  the  holy  Angels,  adore  him  in  this  state 
of  profound  humiliation,  to  which  his  love  for  us  has 


3  St.  Luke,  v.  4. 


DEC.    11.      ST.   DAMASUS.  465 

brought  him.  See  him  there  offering  himself  to  his 
Father  for  the  redemption  of  mankind,  and  com- 
mencing at  once  to  fulfil  the  office  of  our  Mediator, 
which  he  has  taken  upon  himself.  What  an  excess 
of  love  is  this  of  our  Jesus,  that  he  is  not  satisfied 
with  having  humbled  himself  in  assuming  our  nature, 
and  which  alone  would  have  sufficed  to  redeem  a 
million  worlds !  The  eternal  Son  of  God  wills  to 
remain,  as  other  children,  nine  months  in  his  Mother's 
womb  :  after  that,  to  be  born  in  poverty,  to  live  a  life 
of  labour  and  suffering,  and  to  be  obedient  to  death 
even  to  the  death  of  the  Cross.  O  Jesus  !  mayest 
thou  be  praised  and  loved  by  all  creatures  for  this 
thy  immense  love  of  us  !  Thou  hast  come  down  from 
heaven  the  Victim  that  art  to  take  the  place  of  all 
those  which  were  hitherto  offered,  but  which  could 
not  efface  man's  sin.  At  length,  the  earth  possesses 
its  Saviour,  though  as  yet  unseen.  No,  God  will  not 
curse  the  earth,  which,  though  covered  with  crime, 
i  is  rich  in  such  a  treasure  as  this.  Still  repose,  O 
Jesus,  in  the  chaste  womb  of  Mary,  that  living  Ark 
which  contains  the  true  Manna  sent  for  the  food 
of  man.  But  the  time  is  approaching  for  thee  to 
leave  this  loved  sanctuary.  The  tender  love  which 
thou  hast  received  from  Mary,  must  be  changed  for 
the  malice  wherewith  men  will  treat  thee ;  yet  it 
must  needs  be  that  thou  be  born  on  the  day  which 
thou  thyself  hast  decreed  :  it  is  the  will  of  thy  eternal 
Father,  it  is  the  expectation  of  the  world,  it  is  the 
salvation  of  all  who  shall  love  thee. 

PROSE  IN  HONOUR   OF  THE   BLESSED  VIRGIN. 
(Taken  from  the  Cluny  Missal  of  1523.) 

Hail,  thou    glory  of    the  Ave,  mundi  gloria, 

world  ;  hail,  Virgin  Mother  ;  Virgo  Mater  Maria, 

hail,  most  merciful  Mary  !  Ave,  benignissima. 

Hail,  full  of  grace  ;   hail,  Ave,  plena  gratia, 

Queen  of  the  Angels  ;  hail,  Angelorum  domina, 

most  glorious  Mary  !  Ave,  prseclarissima. 

2  H 


466 


ADVENT. 


Ave,  decus  Virginum, 
Ave,  salus  hominum, 
Ave,  potentissima. 

Ave,  Mater  Domini, 
Genitrix  Altissimi, 
Ave,  prudentissima. 

Ave,  mater  glorise, 
Mater  indulgentise, 
Ave,  beatissima, 

Ave,  vena  veniae, 
Fons  misericordiae, 
Ave,  clementissima. 

Ave,  mater  himinis, 
Ave,  honor  setheris, 
Ave,  porta  ccelica, 
Ave,  serenissima  ! 

Ave,  eandens  lilium, 
Ave,  opobalsamum, 
Ave,  fumi  virgula, 
Ave,  splendidissima. 

Ave,  mitis, 
Ave,  dulcis, 
Ave,  pia, 
Ave,  lseta, 
Ave,  lucidissima. 

Ave,  porta, 
Ave,  virga, 
Ave,  rubus, 
Ave,  vellus, 
Ave,  felicissima. 

Ave,  clara  coeli  gemma, 
Ave,  alma  Christi  cella, 
Ave,  venustissima. 

Ave,  virga  Jesse  data, 
Ave,  scala  coeli  facta, 
Ave,  nobilissima. 

Ave,  stirpe  generosa, 
Ave,  prole  gloriosa, 
Ave,  fcetu  gaudiosa, 
Ave,  excellentissima. 


Ave,  Virgo  singularis, 
Ave,  dulce  salutaris, 


Hail,  Virgin  of  Virgins  ; 
hail,  protectress  of  men ;  hail,, 
most  powerful  Mary ! 

Hail,  Mother  of  the  Lord  ; 
hail, parent  of  the  Most  High; 
hail,  most  prudent  Mary  ! 

Hail,  Mother  of  glory ;  hail, 
Mother  of  mercy  ;  hail,  most 
blessed  Mary  ! 

Hail,  source  of  pardon  ; 
hail,  fount  of  pity ;  hail,  most 
clement  Mary ! 

Hail,  Mother  of  light  •  hail, 
honour  of  the  firmament ; 
hail,  gate  of  heaven ;  hail, 
most  gentle  Mary ! 

Hail,  fair  lily;  hail,  precious 
fragrance ;  hail ;  sweet  in- 
cense ;  hail,  most  resplendent 
Mary  ! 

Hail,  O  meek ;  hail,  O 
sweet ;  hail,  O  merciful ;  hail, 
O  joyous ;  hail,  O  most  beau- 
tiful Mary ! 

Hail,  gate  of  heaven ;  hail, 
branch  prophetic  ;  hail,  flam- 
ing bush ;  hail,  mystic  fleece ; 
hail,  most  happy  Mary  ! 

Hail,  beautiful  pearl  of 
heaven  ;  hail,  fruitful  abode 
of  Christ ;  hail,  most  comely 
Mary  ! 

Hail,  branch  of  Jesse ;  hail, 
mystic  ladder  that  reaches  to 
heaven ;  hail,  most  noble 
Mary  ! 

Hail,  daughter  of  a  kingly 
race ;  hail,  Mother  of  a 
Son  who  is  God  ;  hail,  full 
of  joy  at  the  birth  of  this 
Son ;  hail,  most  unrivalled 
Mary  ! 

Hail,  peerless  Virgin ;  hail, 
lovely  source  of  our  happi- 


DEC.    11.      ST.   DAM  ASUS. 


467 


ness  ;  hail,  wonderful  in  thy 
graces  ;  hail,  most  admirable 
Mary ! 

Hail,  spotless  Dove,  pure  in 
thy  chastity,  yet  fruitful  in 
charity ;  hail,  immaculate 
Mary  ! 

Hail,  empress  of  the  world; 
hail,  mediatrix  of  men  ;  hail, 
protectress  of  the  world ; 
hall,  joy  of  our  hearts  ! 

Amen. 


Ave,  digna  admirari, 
Ave,  admirandissima. 

Ave,  turtur,  tu  qua3  mun- 
da 
Castitate,  sed  foecunda 
Charitate,  tu  columba, 
Ave,  pudicissima. 

Ave,  mundi  imperatrix, 
Ave,  nostra  mediatrix, 
Ave,  mundi  sublevatrix, 
Ave,  nostrum  gaudium. 

Amen. 


PRAYER  FOR  THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 

{The  Mozarabic  Breviary,  Monday  of  the  First   Week  of 
Advent.) 


PRAYEE. 

The  tidings  we  have  heard 
of  thy  Incarnation,  O  Jesus, 
have  filled  us  with  gladness 
and  joy.  We  beseech  thee, 
grant  that  we  who  are  expect- 
ing the  manifestation  of  thy 
power,  may  enjoy  the  abun- 
dant sweetness  of  charity ; 
that  thus  corresponding  to 
the  grace  of  the  mystery  an- 
nounced to  us,  we  may  not  be 
confounded  when  thy  glory 
shall  appear  to  us.    Amen. 


OEATIO. 

Nunciatam  ecce  vocem  ju- 
cunditatis  et  lsetitise,  quam 
de  tua,  Christi,  Incarnatione 
audivimus,  ut  in  nobis  dul- 
ciori  efficiamur  charitate  fru- 
entiores,  imploramus  tuse 
magnitudinis  exspectantes 
potentiam ;  ut  ita  in  nobis 
vocis  hujus  effectus  usque- 
quaque  praepolleat,  ut  non 
confundamur  in  ea,  quum 
manifestata  nobis  fuerit  glo- 
ria tua.    Amen. 


468  ADVENT. 


December  12. 
THE  FIFTH  DAY  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE 

OF  THE  IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION. 


Let  us  contemplate  the  sentiments  of  profound  re- 
spect and  maternal  tenderness,  which  fill  the  soul  of 
our  Blessed  Lady,  now  that  she  has  conceived  Jesus  in 
her  chaste  womb :  he  is  her  God,  and  yet  he  is  her 
Son.  Let  us  think  upon  this  wonderful  dignity  be- 
stowed upon  a  creature ;  and  let  us  honour  the  Mother 
of  our  God.  It  was  by  this  mystery  that  was  fulfilled 
the  prophecy  of  Isaias  :  Behold,  a  Virgin  shall  con- 
ceive and  bear  a  Son  y1  and  that  of  Jeremias  :  The 
Lord  hath  created  a  neiv  thing  upon  the  earth  ;  a 
Woman  shall  compass  a  Man.2  The  Gentiles  them- 
selves had  received  the  tradition  of  these  prophecies. 
Thus,  in  the  old  Pagan  Carnutum  (Chartres),  there 
was  an  altar  dedicated  "  To  the  Virgin  that  was  to 
"  bring  forth  a  Son  "  (Virgini  Pariturw);  and  whilst 
modern  rationalism,  with  its  ignorant  scepticism,  was 
affecting  to  throw  a  doubt  on  this  fact  of  history,  the 
researches  of  science  were  discovering  that  Carnutum 
was  far  from  being  the  only  city  of  the  West,  which 
had  such  an  altar. 

But  what  human  language  could  express  the 
dignity  of  our  Lady,  that  carries  within  her  chaste 
womb  Him  that  is  the  World's  Salvation  !  If  Moses, 
after  a  mere  colloquy  with  God,  returned  to   the 

1  Is.  vii.  14.  s  Jer.  xxxi.  22. 


DEC.    12.      FIFTH  DAY  WITHIN  THE   OCTAVE.     469 

Israelites  with  the  rays  of  the  majesty  of  Jehovah 
encircling  his  head  ; — what  an  aureola  of  glory  was 
due  to  Mary,  who  has  within  her,  as  in  a  living 
heaven,  that  very  God  himself !  The  Divine  Wisdom 
tempers  the  effulgence  of  her  glory  that  it  be  not 
visible  to  men  ;  and  this  in  order  that  the  state  of 
humility,  which  the  Son  of  God  has  chosen  as  the 
one  in  which  he  would  manifest  himself  to  the  world, 
should  not  be  removed  at  the  very  onset  by  the 
dazzling  glory  which  would,  otherwise,  have  been 
seen  gleaming  from  his  Mother. 

The  sentiments  which  filled  the  Heart  of  Mary 
during  these  months  of  her  ineffable  union  with  the 
Divine  Word,  may  be  thus  expressed  in  the  words  of 
the  Spouse  in  the  sacred  Canticle  :  /  sat  under  the 
shadow  of  him  whom  I  desired ;  and  his  fruit  ivas 
sweet  to  my  palate.  I  sleep,  but  my  heart  watches. 
My  soul  melted  ivhen  he  spoke.  I  to  my  Beloved 
and  my  Beloved  to  me,  who  feedeth  among  the 
Lilies,  till  the  day  break,  and  the  shadows  retire.1 
And  if  there  ever  were  a  human  heart,  that  was 
forced,  by  the  overpowering  vehemence  of  its  love  of 
God,  to  use  these  other  words  of  the  same  Canticle, 
it  was  Mary's :  0  daughters  of  Jerusalem !  stay  me 
up  with  flowers,  compass  me  about  with  fragrant 
fruits ;  for  I  languish  with  love.2  "  These  sweet 
"  words,"  says  the  venerable  Peter  of  Celles,  "are  those 
"  of  the  Spouse  that  dwelleth  in  the  gardens,  and  is 
"  now  near  the  time  of  her  delivery.  What  so  lovely 
"  in  creation  as  this  Virgin,  who  loves  the  Lord  with 
"  such  matchless  love  and  is  so  exceedingly  loved  by 
"  this  her  Lord  ?  It  is  She  of  whom  the  Scrip- 
"  ture  speaks,  when  it  calls  the  Spouse,  the  dearest 
"  hind.  What,  too,  so  lovely  as  that  well-beloved 
"  Son  of  God,  born  of  his  beloved  Father  from  all 
"  eternity,  and  now,  at  the  end  of  time,  as  the  Apostle 

1  Cant.  ii.  3,  16,  17;  v.  2,  6.     ...  2  Ibid.  ii.  5. 


470  ADVENT. 

"speaks,  formed  in  the  womb  of  his  dearest  Mother, 
"  and  become  to  her,  in  the  words  of  the  same  divine 
"  proverb,  the  sweetest  fawn  ?  Let  us,  therefore,  cull 
"  our  flowers,  and  offer  them  to  both  Child  and 
"  Mother.  But  let  me  briefly  tell  you  what  are  the 
"  flowers  you  must  offer  to  our  Lady.  Christ  says, 
"  speaking  of  his  humanity,  /  am  the  flower  of  the 
"field,  and  the  lily  of  the  valleys.  By  him,  there- 
"  fore,  let  us  purify  our  souls  and  bodies,  and  so  be 
"  able  to  approach  our  God  in  chastity.  Next,  pre- 
"  serve  this  flower  of  purity  from  all  that  would  in- 
"jure  it,  for  flowers  are  tender  things,  and  soon  droop 
"  and  fade.  Let  us  wash  our  hands  among  the  inno- 
"  cent,  and,  with  a  pure  heart,  and  pure  body,  and 
"  cleansed  lips,  and  chaste  soul,  let  us  gather,  in  the 
"  paradise  of  our  heavenly  Father,  our  fresh  flowTers 
"  for  the  new  Nativity  of  our  New  King.  With  these 
"flowers  let  us  stay  up  this  most  saintly  Mother, 
"  this  Virgin  of  Virgins,  this  Queen  of  Queens,  this 
"  Lady  of  Ladies ;  that  so  we  may  deserve  to  receive 
"  the  blessing  of  the  Mother  and  the  Divine  Babe."1 

SEQUENCE   IN   HONOUR   OF   OUE  BLESSED   LADY. 

{Taken  from  the  ancient  Roman-French  Missals.) 

Ave,  Virgo  gratiosa,  Hail,  Virgin  full  of  grace  ! 

Virgo  Mater  gloriosa,  glorious    Virgin-Mother     of 

Mater  Eegis  glorias.  Him  that  is  King  of  glory  ! 

Ave,  fulgens  margarita  Hail,  fair  pearl  !  by  whom 

Per  qnam  venit  mundi  vita,  came  the  life  of  the  world, 

Christus  sol  justitise.  Christ,  the  Sun  of  Justice. 

O  oliva  fructifera,  O  fruitful  olive  1  thou  ex- 

Tu  pietatis  viscera  cludest  no  mortal  from  thy 

Nulli  claudis  hominum.  tender  compassion. 

Nos  exsules  laetificas,  Thou  givest  gladness  to  us 

Ut  vitis,  dum  fructificas,  exiles,  for,  like  a  fruitful  vine, 

Salvatorem  Dominum.  thou  yieldest  thy  fruit,  Jesus 

our  Lord. 

1  Sermon  for  Christmas  Eve. 


DEC.    12.      FIFTH  DAY   WITHIN   THE   OCTAVE.      471 


Hail,  Virgin-Mother  of 
God  !  thou  art  the  Sun  of 
the  heavenly  day  !  thou  art 
the  Moon  of  the  world's 
night ! 

Tenderest  of  Mothers ! 
help  us  poor  mortals,  for 
God  wills  us  to  hope  in  thee 
above  all  creatures. 

Hail,  O  purest  Virgin ! 
God's  special  Temple  !  pray 
for  us  to  him,  that  he  would 
forgive  us  all  our  sins. 

Thou  art  unto  us  what  no 
other  creature  is.  Guide  us, 
O  Star  of  the  Sea  !  Defend 
us  always  and  in  all  places. 
We  fly  to  thee  in  our  neces- 
sities. 

Tender  Mother  !  we  pray 
thee  guide  us,  or  we  go 
astray.  Tell  us,  what  would 
thy  Jesus  have  us  do]  that 
so,  after  this  life  ended,  we 
may  live  for  ever  with  the 
Saints. 

O  Jesus  !  Son  of  God,  our 
only  Saviour,  in  whom  rests 
all  our  hope  !  grant,  by  the 
intercession  of  thy  Mother, 
that  we  may  be  united  to  the 
Angels  in  eternal  joy. 

Amen. 


Ave,  Virgo  Mater  Dei, 
Tu  superni  Sol  diei, 
Et  mundi  noctis  Luna. 


Clementior  prae  caeteris, 
Succurre  nobis  miseris, 
Mortalium  spes  unica. 

Ave,  decus  virginale, 
Templum  Dei  speciale ! 
Per  te  fiat  veniale 
Omne  quod  committimus. 

Tu  nobis  es  singularis  ; 
Tu  nos  ducas,  Stella  maris 
Tu  nos  semper  tuearis  : 
En  ad  te  confugimus. 


Ad  te,  pia,  suspiramus, 
Si  non  ducis,  deviamus  ; 
Ergo  doce  quid  agamus  ; 
Post  hunc  flnem  ut  vivamus 
Cum  Sanctis  perenniter. 


Jesu  Christe,  Fili  Dei, 
Tota  salus  nostrae  spei  ; 
Tuse  matris  interventu 
Angelorum  nos  conventu 
Fac  gaudere  jugiter. 

Amen. 


A  PKAYER  FOE   THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 
(The  Mozarabic  Breviary,  First  Sunday  of  Advent) 


PEAYEE. 

We  have  heard,  0  Christ, 
we  confess,  and  believe,  that 
thou  art  come  from  the 
bosom  of  thy  Father,  to 
clothe  thyself  in  the  cover  of 
our  flesh  by  the  mystery  of 
the  Incarnation,  that    thou 


OEATIO. 

Audivimus,  Christe ;  con= 
fitemur,  et  credimus,  quod 
de  sinu  Patris  egrediens  ve- 
neris, ut  carnis  nostrae  vesti- 
bulo  cingereris,  liberaturus, 
scilicet  susceptae  Incarna- 
tionis  mysterio,  quod  perie- 


472 


ADVENT. 


rat  naturae  vitiatse  contagio. 
Fac  nos,  prsenuntiata  Ad- 
ventus  tui  gaudia,  promptis- 
sima  surrectionis  devotione 
excipere  :  ut  quia  tu  e  loco 
patrio,  secretoque  progre- 
diens,  salvaturus  homines, 
humanitus  properasti  ad 
publicum ;  nos  e  loco  cri- 
minis  exeuntes,  munditiores 
concitum  Divinitatis  tuae 
prospectemus  excursum  :  ut; 
extrema  vitse  nostrse,  nullius 
discriminis  conculcatione  in- 
volvens ;  sic  provoces  ter- 
rore  justitise,  ut  solita  justi- 
fices  pietate.    Amen. 


mayest  thus  deliver  man- 
kind, that  had  been  lost  by 
the  corruption  of  sinful 
nature.  Grant  us  so  de- 
voutly to  welcome  the  joyful 
tidings  of  thy  Coming,  that 
as  thou,  issuing  from  the 
divine  sanctuary  of  thy  Fa- 
ther's bosom,  didst,  for  man's 
salvation,  come  into  the 
world,  in  the  form  of  man  ; 
we  may  abandon  the  sins  in 
which  we  have  been  living, 
and  hasten,  thus  purified,  to 
meet  thy  Divine  Majesty ; 
that  at  the  close  of  our  lives, 
the  fear  of  thy  threats  may 
not  crush  us  by  despair  ;  but 
make  us  now  so  tremble  at 
the  dread  of  thy  justice,  that 
thy  wonted  mercy  may  then 
justify  us.     Amen. 


DEC.   13.      ST.  LUCY.  473 


December  13. 
SAINT  LUCY,  VIRGIN  AND  MARTYR 


There  comes  to  us,  to-day,  the  fourth  of  our  Wise 
Virgins,  the  valiant  Martyr,  Lucy.  Her  glorious 
name  shines  on  the  sacred  Dyptich  of  the  Canon  of 
the  Mass,  together  with  those  of  Agatha,  Agnes,  and 
Cecily;  and  as  often  as  we  hear  it  pronounced  during 
these  days  of  Advent,  it  reminds  us  (for  Lucy  signi- 
fies Light),  that  He  who  consoles  the  Church,  by 
enlightening  her  children,  is  soon  to  be  with  us. 
Lucy  is  one  of  the  three  glories  of  the  Church  of 
Sicily;  as  Catania  is  immortalised  by  Agatha,  and 
Palermo  by  Rosaly,  so  is  Syracuse  by  Lucy.  There- 
fore, let  us  devoutly  keep  her  feast .:  she  will  aid  us 
by  her  prayers  during>  this  holy  season,  and  will 
repay  our  love  by  obtainiug  for  us  a  warmer  love  of 
that  Jesus,  whose  grace  enabled  her  to  conquer  the 
world.  Once  more  let  us  consider,  why  our  Lord  has 
not  only  given  us  Apostles,  Martyrs,  and  Bishops  as 
guides  to  us  on  our  road  to  Bethlehem,  but  has 
willed  also  that  we  should  be  accompanied  thither  by 
such  Virgins  as  Lucy.  The  children  of  the  Church 
are  forcibly  reminded  by  this,  that,  in  approaching 
the  Crib  of  their  Sovereign  Lord  and  God,  they 
must  bring  with  them,  besides  their  faith,  that 
purity  of  mind  and  body  without  which  no  one  can 
come  near  to  God.  Let  us  now  read  the  glorious 
Acts  of  the  Virgin  Lucy. 

Lucy,  a  Virgin  of  Syracuse,        Lucia,  Virgo  Syracusana, 
illustrious  by  birth  and  by    genere  et  Christiana  fide  ab 


474 


ADVENT. 


infantia  nobilis,  una  cum 
matre  Eutychia,  quae  san- 
guinis fluxu  laborabat,  Ca- 
tanam  ad  venerandum  cor- 
pus beatse  Agathse  venit.  Quae 
ad  ejus  sepulchrum  quurn 
suppliciter  orasset,  Agathae 
intercessione,  matris  sanita- 
tem  impetravit.  Statini  vero 
matre  m  exoravit,  ut  quam 
dotem  sibi  datura  esset, 
Christi  pauperibus  tribui 
pateretur.  Ut  igitur  Syracu- 
sas  rediit,  omnem  pecuniam, 
quam  ex  facultatibus  vendi- 
tis  redegerat,  pauperibus  dis- 
tribuit. 


Quod  ubi  rescivisset  is, 
cui  earn  parentes  contra  Vir- 
giiiis  voluntatem  desponde- 
rant,  apud  Paschasiurn  Prse- 
fectum,  Luciam,  quod  Chris- 
tiana esset,  accusavit.  Quam 
ille  cum  nee  precibus,  nee 
minis  ad  cultum  idolorum 
posset  perducere ;  immo 
tanto  magis  incensam  videret 
ad  celebrandas  christianse 
fidei  laudes,  quanto  magis 
ipse  earn  a  sententia  avertere 
conabatur  :  Cessabunt,  in- 
quit,  verba,  quum  ventum 
erit  ab  verbera.  Cui  Virgo  : 
Dei  servis  verba  deesse  non 
possunt,  quibus  a  Christo 
Domino  dictum  est  :  Quum 
steteritis  ante  reges  et  presi- 
des, nolite  cogitare  quomodo 
aut  quid  loquamini ;  dabitur 
enim  vobis  in  ilia  hora  quid 
loquamini ;  non  enim  vos  es- 
tis  qui  loquimini,  sed  Spiritus 
Sanctus  qui  loquitur  in  vobis. 


the  Christian  faith,  which 
she  had  professed  from  her 
infancy,  went  to  Catania, 
with  her  mother  Eutychia, 
who  was  suffering  from  a 
flax  of  blood,  there  to  vene- 
rate the  body  of  the  blessed 
Agatha.  Having  prayed  fer- 
vently at  the  tomb,  she  ob- 
tained her  mother  s  cure,  by 
the  intercession  of  Agatha. 
Lucy  then  asked  her  mother 
that  she  would  permit  her  to 
bestow  upon  the  poor  of 
Christ  the  fortune  which  she 
intended  to  leave  her.  No 
sooner,  therefore,  had  she  re- 
turned to  Syracuse,  than  she 
sold  all  that  was  given  to  her, 
and  distributed  the  money 
amongst  the  poor. 

When  he  to  whom  her 
parents  had,  against  her  will, 
promised  her  in  marriage, 
came  to  know  what  Lucy  had 
done,  he  went  before  the 
Prefect  Paschasius,  and  ac- 
cused  her  of  being  a  Chris- 
tian. Paschasius  entreated 
and  threatened,  but  could  not 
induce  her  to  worship  the 
idols ;  nay,  the  more  he  strove 
to  shake  her  faith,  the  more 
inflamed  were  the  praises 
which  she  uttered  in  profess- 
ing its  excellence.  He  said, 
therefore,  to  her :  We  shall 
have  no  more  of  thy  words, 
when  thou  feelest  the  blows 
of  my  executioners.  To  this 
the  Virgin  replied  :  Words 
can  never  be  wanting  to 
God's  servants,  for  Christ 
our  Lord  has  said  to  them  : 
When  you  shall  be  brought 
before  kings  and  governors, 
take  no  thought  how  or  what 


DEC.    13.      ST.   LUCY. 


475 


to  speak  ;  for  it  shall  be  given 
to  you  in  that  hour  what  to 
speak ;  for  it  is  not  you 
that  speak,  but  the  Holy 
Spirit  that  speaketh  in  you. 

Paschasius  then  asked  her  : 
Is  the  Holy  Spirit  in  thee  1 
She  answered :  They  who  live 
chastely  and  piously,  are  the 
temple  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
He  said  :  I  will  order  thee  to 
be  taken  to  a  brothel,  that 
this  Holy  Spirit  may  leave 
thee.  The  Virgin  said  to  him : 
The  violence  wherewith  thou 
threatenest  me  would  obtain 
for  me  a  double  crown  of 
chastity.  Whereupon  Pas- 
chasius being  exceeding  an- 
gry, ordered  Lucy  to  be  drag- 
ged to  a  place  where  her 
treasure  might  be  violated  ; 
but,  by  the  power  of  God,  so 
firmly  was  she  fixed  to  the 
place  where  she  stood,  that 
it  was  impossible  to  move 
her.  Wherefore  the  Prefect 
ordered  her  to  be  covered 
over  with  pitch,  resin,  and 
boiling  oil,  and  a  fire  to  be 
kindled  round  her.  But 
seeing  that  the  flame  was 
not  permitted  to  hurt  her, 
they  tormented  her  in  many 
cruel  ways,  and  at  length  ran 
a  sword  through  her  neck. 
Thus  wounded,  Lucy  fore- 
told the  peace  of  the  Church, 
which  would  come  after  the 
deaths  of  Dioclesian  and 
Maximian,  and  then  died. 
It  was  the  Ides  of  Decem- 
ber (Dec.  13).  Her  body  was 
buried  at  Syracuse,  but  was 
translated  thence  first  to 
Constantinople,  and  after- 
wards to  Venice. 


Quam  quum  Paschasius 
interrogasset  :  Estne  in  te 
Spiritus  Sanctus  1  Kespon- 
dit  :  Caste  et  pie  viventes 
templum  sunt  Spiritus  Sanc- 
ti.  At  ille  :  Jubebo  te  ad 
lupanar  duci,  ut  te  Spiritus 
Sanctus  deserat.  Cui  Virgo  : 
Si  invitam  jusseris  violari, 
castitas  mihi  duplicabitur  ad 
coronam.  Quare  Paschasius 
ira  inflammatus  Luciam  eo 
trahi  jussit,  ubi  ejus  virgini- 
tas  violaretur  :  sed  divinitus 
factum  est,  ut  firm  a  Virgo 
ita  consisteret,  ut  nulla  vi  de 
loco  dimoveri  posset.  Quam- 
obrem  Praefectus  circum  ip- 
sam  pice,  resina,  ac  ferventi 
oleo  perf  usam,  ignem  accendi 
imperavit  ;  sed  quum  ne 
flamma  quidem  earn  lsederet, 
multis  tormentis  excruciate 
guttur  gladio  transfigitur. 
Quo  vulnere  accepto,  Lucia 
prsedicens  Eeelesiae  tranquil- 
litatem,  quse  futura  erat  Dio- 
cletiano  et  Maximiano  mor- 
tuis,  Idibus  Decembris,  spi- 
ritum  Deo  reddidit.  Cujus 
corpus  Syracusis  sepidtum, 
deinde  Constantinopolim, 
postremoVenetiastranslatum 
est. 


476 


ADVENT. 


We  here  give  some  of  the  Antiphons  which  occur 
in  the  Office  of  the  Saint :  they  form  a  lyric  poem  of 
great  beauty. 


Orante  sancta  Lucia,  ap- 
paruit  ei  beata  Agatha,  et  con- 
solabatur  ancillara  Christi. 


Lucia  Virgo,  quid  a  me 
petis,  quod  ipsa  poteris 
prsestare  continuo  matri  tuse? 

Per  te,  Lucia  Virgo,  civitas 
Syracusana  decorabitur  a 
Domino  Jesu  Christo. 

Benedico  te,  Pater  Domini 
mei  Jesu  Christi,  quia  per 
Filium  tuum  ignis  exstinctus 
est  a  latere  meo. 

In  tua  patientia  possedisti 
animam  tuam,  Lucia,  sponsa 
Christi  :  odisti  quae  in  mun- 
do  sunt,  et  coruscas  cum 
Angelis :  sanguine  proprio 
inimicum  vicisti. 


As  Lucy  was  praying,  there 
appeared  unto  her  the  bless- 
ed Agatha,  and  she  com- 
forted the  handmaid  of 
Christ. 

O  Virgin  Lucy  !  why  ask- 
est  thou  of  me,  what  thyself 
canst  straightways  grant 
unto  thy  mother  1 

Because  of  thee,  O  Virgin 
Lucy  !  the  city  of  Syracuse 
shall  be  honoured-  by  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Words  of  Lacy :  I  bless 
thee,  the  Father  of  my  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  because  by  thy 
Son  the  fire  was  quenched 
that  was  around  me. 

In  thy  patience  thou  didst 
possess  thy  soul,  O  Lucy, 
Spouse  of  Christ !  thou  didst 
hate  the  things  that  are  in 
the  world,  and  thou  shinest 
among  the  Angels.  Thou 
didst  conquer  the  enemy  by 
thine  own  blood. 


We  present  ourselves  before  thee,  0  Virgin  Mar- 
tyr, beseeching  thee  to  obtain  for  us  that  we  may 
recognise  in  his  lowliness  that  same  Jesus  whom  thou 
now  seest  in  his  glory.  Take  us  under  thy  powerful 
patronage.  Thy  name  signifies  Light;  guide  us 
through  the  dark  night  of  this  life.  O  fair  Light  of 
Virginity !  enlighten  us ;  evil  concupiscence  has 
wounded  our  eyes :  pray  for  us,  0  thou  bright  Light 
of  Virginity  !  that  our  blindness  be  healed,  and  that 
rising  above  created  things,  we  may  be  able  to  see 
that  true  Light,  which  shineth  in  darkness,  but  which 
darkness  cannot  comprehend.     Pray  for  us,  that  our 


DEC.   13.      ST.   LUCY.  477 

eye  may  be  purified,  and  may  see,  in  the  Child  who 
is  to  be  born  at  Bethlehem,  the  new  Man,  the  second 
Adam,  the  model  on  which  the  life  of  our  regenera- 
tion must  be  formed.  Pray,  too,  O  holy  Virgin,  for 
the  Church  of  Rome  and  for  all  those  which  adopt 
her  form  of  the  Holy  Sacrifice ;  for  they  daily  pro- 
nounce at  the  Altar  of  God  thy  sweet  name,  and  the 
Lamb,  who  is  present,  loves  to  hear  it.  Heap  thy 
choicest  blessings  on  the  fair  Isle,  which  was  thy 
native  land,  and  where  grew  the  palm  of  thy  martyr- 
dom. May  thy  intercession  secure  to  her  inhabitants 
firmness  of  faith,  purity  of  morals,  and  temporal 
prosperity,  and  deliver  them  from  the  disorders  which 
threaten  her  with  destruction. 


478  ADVENT. 


THE  SAME  DAY. 

ST.   ODILIA,  VIRGIN  AND   ABBESS. 


On  this  same  day,  we  have  also  the  fifth  of  the  Wise 
Virgins,  whose  bright  lamps  light  us,  during  Advent, 
to  the  crib  of  Jesus,  their  Spouse.  Odilia  did  not 
shed  her  blood  for  him,  as  did  Bibiana,  Barbara, 
Eulalia,  and  Lucy;  her  offering  was  her  tears  and 
her  love.  Her  wreath  of  lilies  blends  sweetly  with 
the  roses,  which  form  the  crowns  of  her  four  com- 
panions. Her  name  is  held  in  special  veneration  in 
the  east  of  France,  and  beyond  the  Rhine.  The 
holy  hill  whereon  her  tomb  has  rested  now  these 
thousand  years,  is  still  visited  by  numerous  and 
devout  pilgrims.  Several  Kings  of  the  Capetian  race, 
and  several  Emperors  of  the  House  of  Hapsburg, 
were  descendants  of  the  father  of  our  Saint,  Adalric 
or  Atticus,  Duke  of  Alsace. 

Odilia  was  born  blind.  Her  father  insisted  on  her 
being  removed  from  the  house,  for  her  presence 
would  have  been  a  continual  humiliation  to  him. 
It  seems  as  though  this  affliction  was  permitted  by 
Providence,  in  order  that  the  action  and  power  of 
divine  grace  might  be  the  more  clearly  manifested 
in  her  regard.  The  little  exile  was  taken  from  her 
mother,  and  placed  in  a  monastery.  God,  who  designed 
to  show  the  virtue  of  the  holy  sacrament  of  regenera- 
tion, permitted  that  her  baptism  should  be  deferred 
until  she  had  reached  her  thirteenth  year.  The  time 
at  length  came  for  Odilia  to  be  made  a  Child  of  God. 
No  sooner  was  she  taken  from  the  baptismal  font, 
than  she  recovered  her  eye-sight,  which  was  but  a 


DEC.   13.      ST.   ODILIA.  479 

feeble  figure  of  the  light  which  faith  had  lit  tip  in 
her  soul.  This  prodigy  restored  Odilia  to  her  father 
and  to  the  world;  and  from  that  time  forward,  she 
had  to  defend,  against  unceasing  attacks,  the  virginity 
which  she  had  vowed  to  God.  Her  personal  beauty, 
and  her  father's  wealth  and  power,  attracted  to  her 
many  rich  suitors.  She  refused  them  all;  and  her 
father  himself  built  a  Monastery  on  the  rocks  of 
Hohenburg,  wherein  she  served  her  divine  Lord, 
governed  a  large  community,  and  gave  relief  to  every 
sort  of  suffering. 

After  a  long  life  spent  in  prayer,  penance,  and 
works  of  mercy,  the  day  came  which  was  to  reward 
her  for  it  all.  It  was  this  very  day,  the  thirteenth 
of  December,  the  feast  of  the  holy  virgin  Lucy.  The 
Sisters  of  Hohenburg,  desirous  of  treasuring  up  her 
last  words,  assembled  round  their  saintly  Abbess. 
She  was  in  an  ecstasy,  and  already  dead  to  the  things 
of  this  life.  Fearing  lest  she  should  die  before  she 
had  received  that  holy  Viaticum,  which  leads  the 
soul  to  Him  who  is  her  last  end,  the  Sisters  thought 
it  their  duty  to  rouse  her  from  the  mystic  sleep, 
which,  so  it  seemed  to  them,  rendered  her  forgetful 
of  the  duties  which  she  had  to  perform.  Being  thus 
brought  to  herself,  she  turned  to  the  community,  and 
said  to  them  :  "  Dear  Sisters,  why  have  you  disturbed 
"  me  ?  Why  would  you  again  oblige  me  to  feel  the 
"  weight  of  this  corruptible  body,  when  I  had  once 
"  left  it  ?  By  the  favour  of  his  divine  Majesty,  I 
"  was  in  the  company  of  the  virgin  Lucy,  and  the 
"  delights  I  was  enjoying  were  so  great  that  no 
"  tongue  could  tell  them,  nor  ear  hear  them,  nor 
"  human  eye  see  them."  No  time  was  lost  in  giving 
her  the  Bread  of  life  and  the  Chalice  of  salvation, 
which  having  received,  she  immediately  rejoined  her 
heavenly  companion,  and  the  thirteenth  day  of  De- 
cember thus  united  into  one  the  feasts  of  the  Abbess 
of  Hohenburg  and  of  the  Martyr  of  Syracuse. 


480 


ADVENT. 


The  Church  of  Strasburg,  which  honours  Odilia  as 
one  of  its  greatest  glories,  has  the  following  Lessons 
for  this  feast.  By  giving  them  a  place  here,  we  do 
not  adopt  the  statement  they  contain  with  regard 
to  the  Rule  which  was  followed  in  the  Monastery  of 
Hohenburg.  Mabillon,  who  proves  that  St.  Odilia 
followed  the  Rule  of  St.  Benedict,  shows  that  the 
Canonical  Rule,  as  it  was  called,  did  not  exist  at 
that  time. 


Odilia,  suae  decus  et  pre- 
sidium patriae,  Attici  Alsatiae 
ducis  et  Beresindse  primo- 
genita  soboles  fuit ;  sed  quod 
csecis  oculis  nata  esset,  a 
patre  repudiatam,  mater  hu- 
manior  clam  nutrici  alendam 
tradidit.  Post  in  Balmensi 
parthenio  haud  procul  Veson- 
tione  educata,  divinisque 
erudita  litteris  crevit  setate 
et  sapientia.  Jam  adulta, 
dum  a  Beato  Erhardo  Prse- 
sule  baptizatur,  visum  mira- 
culo  accepit.  Interjectis  ali- 
quot annis,  paternam  in  do- 
mum  et  gratiam  reducitur. 
Ibi  quidquid  mundus  amat 
despiciens,  inter  amplissi- 
mas  opes  paupertatis  amo- 
rem,  in  medio  aulas  tumultu 
solitudinem  anachoretarum 
retinebat ;  nuptiasque  con- 
stanter  aversata,  post  longum 
et  acre  certamen  a  patre 
obtinuit,  ut  sibi  liceret  cum 
aliis  virginibus  Deo  se  in  per- 
petuum  consecrare.  Quare 
Atticus  in  vertice  excelsi 
montis  sacram  sedem  et  mo- 
nasterium  sere  suo  excitavit, 
latos  eidem  fundos  et  prsedia 
concessit.  Odiliamque  ei  re- 
gendo  prseposuit. 


Odilia,  the  glory  and  the 
protectress  of  her  country, 
was  the  eldest  child  of  Adal- 
ric,  Duke  of  Alsace,  and  of 
Beresind  his  wife.  Being 
born  blind,  she  was  repu- 
diated by  her  father  ;  but 
the  mother,  with  more  com- 
passion, had  her  nursed  pri- 
vately. Later  on,  she  was  sent 
to  the  Monastery  of  Baume, 
not  far  from  Besancon,  where 
she  was  educated,  and  in- 
structed in  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures, and  grew  in  age  and 
wisdom.  When  an  adult,  she 
was  baptised  by  the  holy 
Bishop  Erhard,  and  was  on 
that  occasion  miraculously 
cured  of  her  blindness.  After 
the  lapse  of  some  years,  she 
was  recalled  to  her  father's 
house,  and  became  the  object 
of  his  affection.  During  this 
time,  she  despised  all  that 
the  world  loves,  preferring 
poverty  to  the  greatest  wealth, 
and  leading  a  hermit's  life, 
amidst  all  the  distractions  of 
her  father's  palace.  She  re- 
jected, with  great  resolution, 
all  the  offers  of  marriage 
which  were  made  to  her,  and, 
after  a  long  and  hard  contest, 


DEC.    13.      ST.   ODILIA. 


481 


obtained  her  father's  consent 
to  devote  herself  for  ever  to 
God,  with  several  other  vir- 
gins. For  this  end,  Adalric 
built,  at  his  own  cost,  a 
church  and  monastery  on  the 
top  of  a  high  hill,  and  richly- 
endowed  it  with  land  and 
possessions.  It  was  at  his 
request  that  Odilia  was  ap- 
pointed to  govern  the  monas- 
tery. 

Scarce  was  this  abode  of 
sanctity  established,  when 
many  sought  for  admission, 
and,  as  it  is  related,  the  com- 
munity numbered  no  less 
than  a  hundred  and  thirty. 
At  the  commencement,  no 
special  rule  was  followed ; 
the  imitation  of  Odilia  was 
their  rule.  When  afterwards, 
it  was  deliberated  on  which 
of  the  two  rules  should  be 
adopted,  the  Monastic  or  the 
Canonical,  this  latter  was 
preferred  by  the  discreet  Ab- 
bess, as  being  better  adapted 
to  the  circumstances  of  the 
place. 

To  all  around  her  she  was 
indulgent :  to  herself  alone 
she  was  severe.  Her  only 
food  was  barley-bread  and 
water,  to  which  she  sometimes 
added  a  few  herbs.  Her  con- 
templation of  divine  things 
was  continual ;  she  gave  to  it 
the  greatest  part  of  the  night, 
and  spent  the  rest  in  sleep. 
Her  bed  was  a  rough  skin, 
and  a  stone  her  pillow. 

To  this  she  added  a  mater- 
nal solicitude  for  the  poor  and 
sick,  for  whom  she  built  ano- 
ther monastery,  and  also  a 


Vixdum  patuerat  hoc  sanc- 
titatis  asylum,  quum  ingens 
eo  affluxit  virginum  multi- 
tudo ;  centum  triginta  f  uisse 
traditum  est.  Hae  primum 
nullis  religiosae  vitae  legibus 
adscriptae  erant ;  Odiliam 
imitari  pro  legibus  habebatur. 
Deliberantibus  postmodo  cui- 
nam  se  regulae  addicerent, 
monasticae  an  canonicae  ;  sa- 
pientissima  praeses  suadente 
loci  natura,  hanc  alteri  prae- 
tulit. 


Cum  vero  esset  in  omnes 
lenis,  se  solam  durius  arcta- 
bat ;  pane  hordeaceo  et  aqua, 
subinde  modico  legumine, 
tolerabat  vitam.  In  rerum 
divinarum  contemplatione 
defixa,  vigilabat  majorem 
noctis  partem ;  quod  supe- 
rerat,  quieti  datum  :  pellis 
hirsuta  pro  lecto,  saxum  pro 
pulvinari  erat. 

Inter  haec,  materno    erga 

pauperes  et  infirmos  amore, 

aliud  monasterium  amplum- 

que  xenodochium  in  infirmo 

2  I 


482 


ADVENT. 


clivo  extruxit,  quo  facilius 
amictae  suae  fortunae  perfu- 
gium  invenirent.  Illic  non 
solum  sacras  virgines  collo- 
cavit,  quae  operani  suam  na- 
varent  miseris ;  sed  etiam 
ipsa  quotidie  eos  invisebat, 
cibis,  solatiis  refocillabat, 
neque  pavebat  leprosorum 
ulcera  suis  manibus  fovere. 
Tandem  meritis  annisque 
gravis,  quum  se  morti  vici- 
nani  intelligent,  suas  sodales 
in  sacellum  sancti  Johannis 
Baptistae  convocat :  hortatur 
ut  pii  propositi  tenaces  arc- 
tiorem  cceli  viam  nunquam 
deserant.  Accepto  deinde 
ibidem  corporis  et  sanguinis 
Christi  Viatico,  vita  cessit 
Idibus  Decembris,  anno,  ut 
probabilius  traditur,  septin- 
gentesimo  vigesimo.  Corpus 
Virginis  in  eodem  sacello 
conditum  est,  statimque  se- 
pulchrum  ejus  maxima  vene- 
ratione  coli  ac  miraculis  cla- 
rere  ccepit. 


large  hospital  at  the  foot  of 
the  hill,  that  so  they  might 
have  readier  assistance  in 
their  various  miseries.  She 
placed  there  several  of  the 
nuns  to  take  care  of  the  poor 
inmates  ;  not  only  so,  but  she, 
every  day,  visited  them  her- 
self, fed  them,  and  comforted 
them,  and  hesitated  not  to 
dress  with  her  own  hands  the 
loathsome  sores  of  lepers.  At 
length,  weighed  down  by  age 
and  merit,  and  knowing  that 
her  death  was  at  hand,  she 
assembles  her  sisters  in  the 
oratory  of  St.  John  the  Bap- 
tist, and  there  exhorts  them 
to  continue  firm  to  their  holy 
engagements,  and  never  to 
leave  the  narrow  path  which 
leads  to  heaven.  Having  re- 
ceived, in  the  same  place,  the 
Viaticum  of  the  Body  and 
Blood  of  Christ*,  she  departed 
this  life  on  the  Ides  of  De- 
cember (Dec.  13),  and  accord- 
ing to  the  more  probable  opi- 
nion, in  the  year  seven  hun- 
dred and  twenty.  The  body 
of  the  holy  Virgin  was  buried 
in  the  same  oratory,  and  her 
tomb  became  immediately  an 
object  of  the  greatest  vene- 
ration of  the  faithful,  and  was 
celebrated  for  the  miracles 
which  were  wrought  there. 


The  ways  of  God  in  thy  regard,  0  holy  Virgin,  were 
admirable  indeed,  and  he  manifested  in  thee  the 
riches  and  the  power  of  grace.  He  deprived  thee  of 
sight,  that  so  thy  soul  might  the  more  eagerly  cling 
to  his  own  infinite  beauty  ;  and  when  afterwards  he 
restored  thee  thy  bodily  vision,  thou  hadst  already 
made  choice  of  the  better  part.     The  harshness  of 


DEC.    13.      ST.   ODILIA.  483 

thy  father  deprived  thee  of  the  innocent  pleasures  of 
home ;  but  it  prepared  thee  to  become  the  spiritual 
mother  of  so  many  noble  virgins,  who,  following  thy 
example,  trampled  on  all  the  vanities  of  the  world. 
Thou  diclst  choose  a  life  of  humility,  because  thy 
heavenly  Spouse  Jesus  had  humbled  himself  for  our 
sakes.  Thou  didst  imitate  him  also  in  his  being  our 
divine  Deliverer,  and  taking  upon  himself  all  our 
miseries,  for  thou  hadst  the  tenderest  compassion  on 
the  poor  and  the  sick.  Thou  didst  take  on  thyself  the 
care  of  a  poor  leper,  that  had  been  abandoned  by  all 
else ;  with  a  mother's  courage  thou  didst  feed  him, 
and  affectionately  dress  his  loathsome  sores.  And 
is  it  not  this  that  our  Jesus  is  coming  down  from 
heaven  to  do  for  us  ;  to  heal  our  wounds  by  embrac- 
ing our  human  nature,  and  to  nourish  us  with  that 
food,  which  he  is  preparing  to  give  us  at  Bethlehem  ? 
Whilst  the  leper  was  receiving  thy  loving  care,  the 
frightful  disease,  which  excluded  him  from  the  society 
of  his  fellow-creatures,  suddenly  disappeared ;  a  de- 
licious odour  came  from  his  whole  person,  whereas 
before,  none  but  a  saint  like  thyself  could  have  borne 
to  approach  him.  Is  it  not  this  which  Jesus  is  coming 
down  to  do  for  us  \  The  leprosy  of  sin  was  upon  us  ; 
his  grace  heals  us,  and  man  regenerated  sheds  around 
him  the  good  odour  of  Christ.1 

In  the  midst  of  the  joys  which  thou  art  now  sharing- 
with  Lucy,  remember  us,  0  thou  that  wast  ever  so 
compassionate  to  the  needy  !  We  cannot  forget  the 
tears  which  thou  didst  shed,  and  the  prayers  thou 
didst  offer  up  for  the  soul  of  thy  father  after  his  death, 
and  by  which  thou  didst  deliver  him  from  purgatory, 
and  open  the  gates  of  heaven  to  him  that  had  banished 
thee  from  his  house.  Thou  art  no  longer  in  the  land 
of  tears ;  but  thine  eyes  are  opened  to  the  light  of 
heaven  and  contemplate  God  in  his  glory ;  pray  there- 

1  II.  Cor.  ii.  14,  15. 


484  ADVENT. 

fore  for  us,  for  thy  prayers  are  now  more  powerful 
than  heretofore.  Think  of  us  who  are  poor  and  in- 
firm ;  obtain  the  cure  of  our  maladies.  The  Emma- 
nuel, who  is  coming  to  us,  tells  us  that  he  is  the 
Physician  of  our  souls,  for  he  has  said :  "  The}r  that 
■  are  in  health  need  not  the  Physician,  but  they  that 
"  are  ill."1  Ask  him  that  he  cure  us  of  the  leprosy  of 
sin,  and  make  us  become  even  like  unto  himself. 
Pray  for  France,  thy  country,  and  help  her  to  main- 
tain the  purity  of  the  Catholic  faith.  Watch  over  the 
ruins  of  the  Holy  Empire.  Heresy  has  disunited  the 
members  of  that  great  body ;  but  it  will  once  more 
flourish,  if  our  Lord,  propitiated  by  such  prayers  as 
thine,  vouchsafe  to  bring  Germany  back  again  to  the 
true  faith  and  to  submission  to  the  Church.  Yes, 
pray  that  these  glorious  things  be  brought  about  for 
the  honour  and  glory  of  thy  Divine  Spouse,  and  that 
nations,  now  weary  of  their  errors  and  disunion,  m"ay 
unite  together  in  propagating  the  Kingdom  of  God 
upon  earth. 


Let  us  consider  the  Ever  Blessed  Mother  of  God 
leaving  her  humble  dwelling  at  Nazareth,  in  order  to 
visit  her  cousin,  St.  Elizabeth.  The  Church  honours 
this  Mystery  of  the  Visitation  on  the  Friday  in  Ember 
Week  of  Advent,  as  we  have  mentioned  above,  in  the 
Proper  of  the  Time.  We  will  let  St.  Bonaventure 
relate  this  sublime  incident  of  Mary's  life,  convinced 
that  our  readers  will  be  pleased  to  hear  the  Seraphic 
Doctor  revealing  to  them,  with  his  wonderful  unction, 
these  preludes  to  the  Birth  of  Jesus. 

'■  After  this,  our  Lady,  pondering  the  words  spoken 
unto  her  by  the  Angel  concerning  her  cousin  Eliza- 
beth, resolved  to  visit  her,  that  she  might  congratu- 
late with  her  and  render  her  service.     She,  therefore, 

1  St.  Matth.  ix.  12. 


DEC.   13.      ST.   ODILIA.  485 

together  with  Joseph  her  Spouse,  set  out  from  "Naza- 
reth for  the  house  of  Elizabeth,  which  might  perhaps 
be  fourteen  or  fifteen  miles  distant  from  Jerusalem. 
Neither  the  roughness  nor  the  length  of  the  journey 
discouraged  her ;  but  she  walked  with  haste,  foras- 
much as  she  wished  to  be  little  seen  in  public.  She 
was  not,  like  other  mothers,  burdened  by  her  Child, 
nor  was  it  to  be  thought  that  the  Lord  Jesus  would 
be  a  burthen  to  his  Mother.  See,  therefore,  how  the 
Queen  of  heaven  and  earth  takes  this  journey  alone, 
with  none  but  her  Spouse  Joseph ;  not  riding,  but 
walking  ;  neither  is  she  escorted  by  troops  of  soldiers 
and  barons,  nor  attended  by  handmaids  and  fine 
ladies.  Her  train  is  poverty,  humility,  modesty,  and 
the  beauty  of  all  virtues.  The  Lord  himself,  too,  is 
with  her  ;  and  he  verily  hath  a  numerous  and  honour- 
able suite,  but  it  is  not  that  of  the  world,  vain  and 
pompous. 

"  Now,  when  she  had  entered  the  house  of  Eliza- 
beth, she  greeted  her  saying :  Hail !  my  Sister  Eliza- 
beth! But  she,  exulting,  and  all  full  of  joy,  and 
inflamed  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  rises  and  most  tenderly 
embraces  Mary,  exclaiming  for  joy  :  Blessed  art  thou 
among  women,  and  blessed  is  the  fruit  of  thy  womb  ! 
And  whence  is  this  to  me,  that  there  should  come 
unto  me  the  Mother  of  my  Lord  ?  For  as  soon  as  the 
Virgin  had  greeted  Elizabeth,  John,  in  his  mother's 
womb,  was  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  was  likewise 
the  mother.  Nor  was  it  that  the  mother  was  filled  and 
then  her  child,  but  contrariwise,  the  child  was  filled 
firsthand  he  communicated  the  Spirit  unto  the  mother. 
The  babe  effected  nought  in  Elizabeth's  soul,  but  he 
merited  that  the  Holy  Ghost  should  do  a  work  in 
her  soul,  because  the  grace  of  the  Divine  Spirit  had 
descended  into  him  with  greater  abundance,  and  he 
was  the  first  to  receive  the  grace.  And  as  Elizabeth 
had  perceived  the  coming  of  Mary,  so  did  John  per- 
ceive the  coming  of  Jesus.     Therefore  was  it,  that  he 


486 


ADVENT. 


leaped  for  joy,  and  she  prophesied.  See  the  virtue 
of  our  Lady's  words,  when  by  their  utterance  there  is 
conferred  the  Holy  Ghost ;  for  so  replenished  was 
Mary  with  Him,  that,  by  her  merits,  he  filled  others 
also  with  himself.  Upon  this,  Mary  made  answer 
unto  Elizabeth,  saying:  My  soul  doth  magnify  the 
Lord,  and  my  spirit  hath  rejoiced  in  God  my  Sa- 
viour." 


SEQUENCE  IN  HONOUR  OF  THE  MOTHER  OE  GOD. 

(Taken  from  the  ancient  Roman-French  Missals.) 

Happy  day  this  !  for  on  it 
we  make  commemoration  of 
Mary,  the  Mother  of  God. 

Let  us  sing  to-day  the 
praises  and  the  dignity  of 
the  ever  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary. 

Whoe'er  thou  art,  and 
where'er  thou  art,  pray  to 
her,  beseech  her  to  help  thee. 

Sing,  sing,  with  all  thy 
heart  and  voice's  power  : 
Hail  Mary  !  full  of  grace. 

Hail,  Queen  of  Heaven  ! 
purest  of  Virgins,  yet  incom- 
parable Mother  ! 

Made  fruitful  by  God, 
thou,  his  creature,  didst  give 
birth,  O  prodigy  of  prodi- 
gies !  to  thy  Creator. 

Here  was  the  prophecy 
fulfilled ;  that  a  garden 
should  flower  under  the 
breath  of  the  south  zephyr ; 
that  all  its  gates  were  closed, 
and  no  man  could  enter. 

Mary  is  the  earth  spoken 
of  as  enriched  with  the  dew 
of  heaven ;  she  is,  as  Gedeon's 
fleece  prefigured  her,  filled 
with  the  dew  of  the  God- 
head. 


Hodiernse  lux  diei 
Celebris  in  Matris  Dei 
Agitur  memoria. 

Decantemus  in  hac  die 
Semper  Virginis  Mariae 
Laudes  et  prseconia. 

Omnis  homo,  omni  hora, 
Ipsam  ora  et  implora 
Ejus  patrocinia. 

Psalle,  psalle,  nisu  toto, 
Cordis,  oris,  voce,  voto : 
Ave  plena  gratia ! 

Ave,  Domina  ccelorum, 
Inexperta  viri  torum, 
Parens  paris  nescia. 

Fceeundata  sine  viro, 
Genuisti  more  miro 
Genitorem  filia. 

Florens      hortus      Austro 
flante, 
Porta  clausa  post  et  ante, 
Via  Viris  in  via. 


Fusa  cceli  rore  tellus, 
Fusum  Gedeonis  vellus, 
Deitatis  pluvia. 


DEC.    13.      ST.   ODILIA. 


487 


Hail,  Mary,  thou  bright- 
ness of  heaven  !  bring  to  our 
darkness  the  light  that  is 
from  above. 

O  Star  of  the  Sea,  calm 
its  storms,  and  suffer  not 
that  they  overwhelm  us. 

Amen. 


Salve,  splendor  firmamenti : 
Tu  caliginosas  menti 
Desuper  irradia. 

Placa  mare,  maris  Stella, 
Ne  involvat  nos  procella 
Et  tempestas  obvia. 

Amen. 


INTROIT   OF  ADVENT. 


(Ambrosian  Missal,  Sixth  Sunday,  Ingressa.) 


Seest  thou  not  Elizabeth 
thus  speaking  to  Mary  the 
Mother  of  God:  How  is  it 
that  thou,  the  Mother  of  my 
Lord,  art  come  unto  me  ]  for 
if  I  had  known  of  thy  com- 
ing, I  would  have  come  to 
meet  thee.  For  thou  bearest 
the  King,  and  I  the  Prophet  • 
thou  Him  that  giveth  the 
law,  and  I  him  that  re- 
ceiveth  the  law ;  thou  the 
Word5>  and  I  the  Voice  that 
proclaimeth  the  Coming  of 
the  Redeemer. 


Videsne  Elisabeth  cum 
Dei  Genitrice  Maria  dispu- 
tantem  :  Quid  ad  me  venisti. 
Mater  Domini  mei  ]  Si 
enim  scirem,  in  tuum  veni- 
rem  occursum.  Tu  enim 
Regnatorem  portas,  et  ego 
Prophetam :  tu  legem  dan- 
tem,  et  ego  legem  accipien- 
tem :  tu  Verbum,  et  ego 
Vocem  proclamantis  Adven- 
tum  Salvatoris. 


488  ADVENT. 


December  14. 
THE  SEVENTH  DAY  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE 

OF  THE  IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION. 


Let  us  consider  how  our  Blessed  Lady,  having 
arrived  at  the  house  of  her  holy  cousin  Elizabeth, 
rendered  her  every  possible  service  with  the  greatest 
love,  favoured  her  with  her  sweet  and  holy  conversa- 
tions, assisted  at  the  glorious  Birth  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist,  and  at  length  returned  home  to  her  humble 
dwelling  at  Nazareth.  But,  that  we  may  the  better 
enter  into  these  divine  mysteries,  let  us  again  listen 
to  the  Seraphic  St.  Bonaventure : 

"  When,  therefore,  her  time  was  expired,  Elizabeth 
gave  birth  to  a  son,  whom  our  Lady  took  up,  and 
with  all  diligence  did  what  was  required.  The  babe 
looked  into  Mary's  face  like  one  that  knew  her ;  and 
as  she  gave  him  unto  his  mother,  he  turned  his  head 
towards  Mary,  for  he  fain  would  be  in  her  arms  again. 
Mary,  on  her  part,  delighted  in  nursing  this  holy  babe, 
and  fondled  him,  and  kissed  him  with  great  joy. 
Consider  the  honour  that  is  here  given  unto  John. 
Never  had  child  such  arms  as  these  to  carry  him. 
Many  other  privileges  are  related  as  being  granted 
unto  him ;  but  for  this  present,  I  must  needs  pass 
them  by. 

"  Now,  on  the  eighth  day,  the  child  was  circum- 
cised, and  was  called  John.    Then  was  the  mouth 


DEC.  14.   SEVENTH  DAY  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE.  489 

Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel!  Thus  were 
made,  in  that  house,  the  two  most  beautiful  Can- 
ticles, namely,  the  Magnificat  and  the  Benedictus. 
Meanwhile,  our  Lady  going  aside,  lest  she  should  be 
seen  by  those  that  had  come  together  for  the  cere- 
mony, listened  attentively  to  the  Canticle  of  Zachary, 
which  prophesied  of  her  Son,  and  most  prudently 
pondered  in  her  heart  upon  all  these  things.  At 
length,  when  the  time  came  for  her  to  return 
home,  she  bade  Elizabeth  and  Zachary  farewell, 
and  giving  John  her  blessing,  she  returned  unto 
Nazareth.  Recal  to  thy  mind,  in  this  her  second 
journey,  all  that  was  told  thee  of  her  poverty. 
She  returned  to  her  house,  where  she  would  find 
neither  bread,  nor  wine,  nor  those  things  which 
were  needed.  She  had  no  property,  nor  money. 
She  had  been,  now  these  three  months,  living  with 
persons  who  were  very  rich ;  but  now  she  returns 
unto  her  poor  cottage,  and  has  to  procure  her  live- 
lihood by  the  labour  of  her  hands.  Do  thou  sym- 
pathise with  her,  and  learn  to  love  poverty." 


SEQUENCE  IN  HONOUR  OF  THE   BLESSED  VIRGIN. 

{Taken  from  the  ancient  Roman-French  Missals.) 


Hail,  O  glorious  Virgin  !  Ave,  Virgo  gloriosa, 

brightness  of    the    heavens,  Coeli  jubar,  mundi  rosa, 

rose  of  the  world,  lily  of  pu-  Coelibatus  lilium. 
rity. 

Hail,  precious  gem  !  more  Ave,  gemma  pretiosa, 

beauteous  than  the  sun,  and  Super  solem  speciosa, 

joy  of  pure  souls.  Virginale  gaudium. 

Thou  art  the  sinner's  hope,  Spes  reorum,  O  Maria, 

O  Mary  !  thou  art  the  holy  Eedemptoris  Mater  pia, 

Mother  of  our  Redeemer,  and  Redemptorum  gloria, 
the  consolation  of  us  whom 
he  redeemed. 


490 


ADVENT. 


Finis  lethi,  vitas  via  ; 
Tibi  triplex  Hierarchia 
Digna  dat  prasconia. 


Virga  Jesse  florida, 
Stella  maris  lucida, 
Sidus  veras  lucis. 

Fructum  vitas  proferens, 
Et  ad  portum  transferens 
Salutis,  quod  ducis. 

Florens      hortus,      asgris 
gratus, 
Puritatis  fons  signatus, 
Dans  fluenta  gratias. 

Thronus  veri  Salomonis, 
Quern  prasclaris  coeli  donis 
Ornavit  Hex  glorias. 

O  regina  pietatis, 
Et  totius  sanctitatis 
Flumen  indeficiens. 

In  te  salva  confidentes, 
Salutari  sitientes 
Potu  nos  reficiens. 

Ad  te  flentes  suspiramus. 
Rege  mentes,  invoc'amus, 
Evas  proles  niisera. 

Statum    nostras     pauper- 
tatis, 
Vultu  tuas  bonitatis, 
Clementer  considera. 

Cella  fragrans  aromatum 
Apotheca  charismatum 
Salutaris. 

Tuam  nobis  fragrantiam 
Spirans,  infunde  gratiam 
Qua  ditaris. 

Dulcis  Jesu  Mater  bona, 
Mundi  salus,  et  Matrona 
Supernorum  civium. 


Thou  didst  stay  the  reign 
of  death,  thou  didst  com- 
mence the  reign  of  life.  To 
thee,  O  Mary,  the  triple  Hie- 
rarchy sing  their  praises. 

Hail !  flowery  stem  of  Jesse, 
bright  Star  of  the  Sea,  source 
that  broughtest  to  us  Him 
that  is  our  true  light. 

Thou  bearest  the  Fruit  of 
life,  and  he  whom  thou 
leadest  will  not  miss  the  port 
of  salvation. 

O  flowery  garden,  so  sweet 
to  the  sick  !  O  sealed  fount 
of  purity,  that  gavest  us 
Jesus  the  author  of  grace. 

Thou  throne  of  the  true 
Solomon,  enriched  by  the 
King  of  glory  with  the  best 
of  heaven's  gifts. 

O  merciful  Queen  !  thoa 
art  the  rich  unfailing  stream 
of  all  sanctity. 

Have  pity  on  us  who  trust 
in  thee,  and  refresh  our 
thirsty  souls  with  thy  effica- 
cious prayers. 

Hear  our  sighs,  O  Mary  ! 
and  suffer  not  us,  poor  chil- 
dren of  Eve,  to  go  astray. 

Look  with  thy  eye  of  love 
on  our  many  wants  :  com- 
passionate our  poverty. 

Vessel  of  every  fragrance, 
and  Mother  and  treasury  of 
divine  grace. 

Breathe  thy  fragrance  into 
■  our  souls,  and  obtain  for  us 
the  riches  of  grace. 

Beautiful  Mother  of  our 
sweet  Jesus  !  the  world  re- 
ceived its  Saviour  through 
thee,  and  the  heavenly  citi- 
zens call  thee  Queen. 


DEC.  14.   SEVENTH  DAT  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE.  491 


Obtain  for  us  that  peace 
which  has  no  end,  and  after 
this  our  exile,  that  light  which 
is  divine.    Amen. 


Pacem    confer    sempiter- 
nain, 
Et  ad  lucem  nos  supernam 
Transfer  post  exilium. 
Amen. 


PRAYER  FOR  THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 


{The  Mozarabic  Breviary,  Friday  of  the  Second  Week  of 
Advent,  Capitula.) 


O  King,  whom  our  hearts 
desire,  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
come, we  beseech  thee,  cleanse 
us  as  a  furnace  of  fire  from 
the  dross  of  our  sins,  and 
make  us  like  gold  that  is 
pure,  and  like  silver  that  is 
without  alloy.  Inflame  our 
hearts,  by  thy  inspiration, 
that  they  seek  thee  unceas- 
ingly :  so  may  our  desires 
long  with  all  ardour  after 
thee,  and  pant  with  all  eager- 
ness to  be  united  with  thee. 
Amen. 


Dominator  desiderabilis, 
Domine  Jesu  Christe,  quasi 
ignis  conflans  ab  scoriis 
peccaminum  nos  absterge  : 
et  quasi  aurum  purum  ar- 
gentumque  purgatum,  nos 
eflice  ;  tuoque  inspiramine, 
ad  quserendum  te  jugiter, 
corda  nostra  succende :  ut 
ad  te  ardenter  nostra  desi- 
deria  anhelent,  tibique  con- 
jungi  tota  aviditate  festi- 
nent    Amen. 


492  ADVENT. 


December  15. 


THE  OCTAVE  OF  THE  IMMACULATE 
CONCEPTION 

OF  THE  MOST  BLESSED  VIRGIN. 


This,  the  eighth  day  from  that  on  which  we  kept  the 
Feast  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  is  the  Octave 
properly  so  called ;  whereas  the  other  days  were 
simply  called  days  within  the  Octave.  The  custom 
of  keeping  up  the  principal  Feasts  for  a  whole  week, 
is  one  of  those  which  the  Christian  Church  adopted 
from  the  Synagogue.  God  had  thus  spoken  in  the 
Book  of  Leviticus :  "  The  first  day  shall  be  called 
"  most  solemn  and  most  holy,  you  shall  do  no  servile 
"  work  therein.  .  .  .  The  eighth  day  also  shall  be 
"  most  solemn  and  most  holy,  and  you  shall  offer 
"  holocausts  to  the  Lord,  for  it  is  the  day  of  assembly 
"  and  congregation ;  you  shall  do  no  servile  work 
"  therein."1  We  also  read  in  the  Book  of  Kings,  that 
Solomon  having  called  all  Israel  to  Jerusalem,  for 
the  dedication  of  the  Temple,  suffered  not  the  people 
to  return  home  until  the  eighth  day. 

We  learn  from  the  Books  of  the  New  Testament 
that  this  custom  was  observed  in  our  Saviour's  time, 
and  we  find  him  authorising,  by  his  own  example, 
this  solemnity  of  the  Octave.  Thus,  we  read  in 
Saint  John,  that  Jesus  once  took  part  in  one  of 
the  Jewish  Festivals,  about  the  midst  of  the  Feast  ;2 
of    Zachary   opened,   and    he    prophesied,    saying : 

1  Lev.  xxiii.  35,  36.  2  St.  John,  vil  14. 


DEC.  15.  OCTAVE  OF  THE  IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION.  493 

and  the  same  Evangelist  relating  how  our  Lord  cried 
out  to  the  people :  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come 
to  me,  and  drink :  observes,  that  it  was  on  the  last 
and  great  day  of  the  festivity} 

In  the  Christian  Church,  there  are  two  kinds  of 
Octaves :  Privileged  Octaves,  and  Non-privileged 
Octaves.  The  first  are  so  solemn,  that  no  feast  of 
a  Saint,  occurring  during  them,  can  be  kept,  but 
mast  be  transferred  to  some  other  time,  out  of  the 
Octave.  Neither,  during  these  Octaves,  can  a  Mass 
De  Requiem  be  said,  unless  the  corpse  be  present 
for  burial.  Non-privileged  Octaves  admit  the  Feasts 
of  Saints,  which  occur  during  them,  provided  they 
are  semi-doubles  or  of  higher  class;  but  a  com- 
memoration of  the  Octave  must  be  made  both  in 
the  Office  and  the  Mass  of  the  Feast,  which  thus 
takes  precedence  of  the  Octave,  unless  this  Feast  be 
itself  one  of  a  first  or  second  Class. 

The  Octave  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  the 
first  that  occurs  in  the  Liturgical  Year,  is  not  pri- 
vileged. It  gives  place,  not  only  to  the  Sunday,  but 
also  to  the  feasts  of  St.  Damasus  and  St.  Lucy,  and 
to  the  various  local  feasts  which  are  of  a  double  or 
semi-double  rite. 

Let  us  once  more  devoutly  reverence  the  Mystery 
of  Mary's  Immaculate  Conception  :  our  Emmanuel 
loves  to  see  his  Mother  honoured.  After  all,  is  it  not 
for  him  and  for  his  sake  that  this  Bright  Star  was 
prepared  from  all  eternity,  and  created  when  the 
happy  time  fixed  by  the  divine  decree  came  ?  When 
we  honour  the  Immaculate  Conception  of  Mary,  it  is 
really  to  the  divine  Mystery  of  the  Incarnation  that 
we  are  paying  our  just  homage.  Jesus  and  Mary 
cannot  be  separated,  for  Isaias  tells  us  that  She  is 
the  Branch,  and  He  the  Flower.2 

We  give  thee  thanks,  O  Jesus  our  Emmanuel 

1  St.  John,  vii.  37.  2  Is.  xi.  1. 


494  ADVENT. 

because  thou  hast  granted  us  to  live  during  the  time 
that  the  privilege  of  thy  Blessed  Mother  was  pro- 
claimed on  this  earth  ;  the  glorious  privilege  -where- 
with thou  didst  enrich  the  first  instant  of  the  life 
of  the  happy  creature,  from  whom  thou  didst  take 
upon  thyself  our  human  nature  !     This  Definition  of 
thy  Church    has  given  us  a  clearer  knowledge  of 
thine  infinite  holiness.     It  has  taught  us  to  see  more 
distinctly  the    harmony  there   is  in  all  thy  divine 
mysteries.     But  it  also  has  impressed  upon  us  the 
great  truth,  that  we  ourselves,  being   destined   to 
the  most  intimate  union  with  thee  here,  and  to  the 
face-to-face  vision  of  thy  infinite  Majesty  hereafter, 
must  labour  without  ceasing  to  purify  ourselves  from 
the  smallest  stains  of  sin.      Thou  hast  said  :  Blessed 
are  the  clean  of  heart  for  they  shall  see  God;1  and 
thou  showest  us,  by  the  dogma  of  thy  Blessed  Mother's 
Immaculate   Conception,  what  is  the  purity  which 
thy  sovereign  sanctity  demands  of  us.     Ah  !  by  the 
love,  which  led  thee  to  preserve  her  from  every  stain  of 
sin,  have  mercy  on  us  who  are  her  devoted  children. 
Thou  art  so  soon  to  be  among  us !     Before  many 
days  are  past,  we  shall  have  yielded  to  thy  invitations, 
and  have  presumed  to  approach  thy  sacred  Crib.     We 
are  not  yet  ready,  dear  Jesus  !    The  effects  of  original 
sin  are  still  so  plainly  upon  us,  and,  what  is  worse, 
there  are  so  many  of  our  own  sins,  which  we  have 
added  to  this  of  our  first  parent :   Oh  !  prepare  our 
hearts  and  our  senses,  for  we  will  not  approach  to 
Bethlehem  unworthily.     The  sinless  purity  of  thy 
Mother  is  not  for  us ;  we  ask  not  for  that ;  but  we 
ask  for  forgiveness  of  our  countless  sins,  for   con-, 
version,  for   hatred  of  the    world    and    the    world's 
maxims,  and  for  perseverance  in  thy  holy  love. 

O  Mary  S   created  Mirror  of  divine  Justice,  and. 
purer  than  the  Cherubim  and  Seraphim,  in  return  for 

1  St.  Matth.  v.  8. 


DEC.  15.  OCTAVE  OF  THE  IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION.  495 

the  homage  paid  thee  by  this  our  generation,  on  that 
blissful  day  when  the  glory  of  thy  Immaculate  Con- 
ception was  proclaimed  throughout  the  world,  give 
us  that  abundant  richness  of  thy  protecting  love,  which 
thou  didst  reserve  till  now.  The  world  is  shaken  to 
its  very  foundations  :  thy  hand  can  help  it  to  rest 
again.  Hell  has  let  loose  upon  mankind  the  most 
terrible  of  its  spirits  of  wickedness,  who  breathe  but 
blasphemy  and  destruction  ;  but,  at  the  same  time, 
the  Church  of  thy  Jesus  feels  that  her  youth  has 
been  renewed  within  her,  and  that  the  seed  of  the 
divine  word  is  broadcast  and  healthy  in  a  thousand 
fresh  portions  of  the  earth.  Never  was  the  battle 
more  fierce  on  both  sides  :  so  that  we  need  all  our 
hope  to  make  us  feel  that  hell  will  not  prevail.  Is 
this  the  great  struggle,  which  is  to  be  followed  by  the 
day  of  judgment  ? 

O  Blessed  Mother  of  Jesus  !  O  Queen  of  the 
universe !  can  it  be  that  the  Star  of  thy  Immaculate 
Conception  has  shone  in  the  heavens  only  to  light 
up  the  ruin  and  wreck  of  this  earth  ?  The  sign  fore- 
told by  the  Beloved  Disciple  St.  John,  of  the  Woman 
that  appeared  in  the  heavens  clad  with  the  Sun, 
bearing  on  her  head  a  crown  of  twelve  stars,  and 
crushing  the  Crescent  beneath  her  feet1 — has  it  not 
more  brightness  and  power  than  that  other,  which 
appeared  in  the  heavens  telling  men  that  God's 
anger  was  appeased,  and  that  the  deluge  was  over  ? 
The  light  which  shines  upon  us  is  from  a  Mother. 
It  is  our  Mother  that  comes  to  console  and  heal  us. 
It  is  heaven  that  smiles  upon  poor  guilty  earth.  We 
have  deserved  the  chastisement  we  have  received, 
and  more  than  we  have  received  :  but,  the  anger  of 
God  will  give  way,  and  he  will  spare  us. 

The  graces  which  God  poured  out  upon  the  world 
on  that  great  Day  of  the  Church's  Definition  of  Mary's 
Immaculate  Conception,  were  not  to  be  without  their 

1  Apoc.  xii.  1. 


496  ADVENT. 

effect ;  a  new  period  then  commenced.  Mary,  on 
whom  heresy  had  heaped  its  blasphemies  for  three 
hundred  years,  will  again  reign  in  the  love  of  those 
whom  her  Son  redeemed;  countries  will  abandon  those 
errors  which  have  made  them  slaves  and  dupes  of 
men's  doctrines;  the  old  serpent  will  again  writhe 
under  that  crushing  pressure  which  God  set  up  from 
the  beginning ;  and  the  divine  Sun  of  Justice  will 
pour  out  on  the  regenerated  world  the  floods  of  a  light, 
more  than  ever  dazzling  and  resplendent.  We  may 
not  live  to  see  that  time  ;  but  we  have  signs  of  its 
-  near  approach. 

It  was  in  the  last  century,  that  thy  devout  servant 
whom  the  Church  has  placed  upon  her  altars, 
Leonard  of  Porto-Maurizio,  predicted  that  when  this 
dogma  of  thy  Immaculate  Conception  should  be 
defined,  the  world  would  enjoy  a  long  period  of  peace. 
The  troubles  of  the  present  time  in  which  we  are  living 
are,  we  doubt  not,  a  prelude  to  that  happy  peace,  during 
which  the  divine  word  will  traverse  the  whole  world 
unimpeded,  and  the  Church  militant  will  reap  her 
harvest  for  the  Church  in  heaven.  Sweet  Mother  of 
our  Jesus  !  the  world  was  also  in  agitation  in  those 
times  which  preceded  the  Birth  of  thy  divine  Son ; 
but  peace  reigned  throughout  the  whole  earth,  when 
thou  didst  give  it  its  Saviour  in  Bethlehem.  Until 
that  grand  time  come,  when  thou  wilt  show  to  the 
world  the  magnificence  of  the  power  which  God  has 
given  to  thee,  assist  us,  each  year,  to  prepare  for  the 
glorious  solemnity  of  Christmas :  oh  !  pray  for  us,  * 
that  we  may  be  cleansed  from  all  our  sins  when  that 
splendid  Night  comes,  during  which  will  be  born  of 
thee  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  the  Light  eternal. 

PROSE  IN  HONOUR  OF  THE  HOLY  MOTHER  OF  GOD. 

{Taken  from  the  ancient  Roman-French  Missals.) 

Cor  devotum  elevetur,  Let    every  heart,  that  is 

Ut  devote  celebretur  devout,  now  raise  itself  and 


DEC.  15.  OCTAVE  OF  THE  IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION.  497 


devoutly  celebrate  the  Con- 
ception of  the  Virgin  ever 
blessed. 

Let  the  mind  be  inflamed 
with  love  ;  and  let  praise  and 
jubilee  unite  with  the  love. 

In  her  admirable  Concep- 
tion, she  is  a  rose  in  its  beauty, 
she  is  a  lily  in  its  whiteness. 

As  fruit  that  comes  from 
the  flower,  so  was  Mary 
brought  forth  in  her  purity, 
for  her  Son  had  possession  of 
her  from  the  first. 

As  a  dew-drop  contracts 
not  a  stain  from  the  earth 
whereon  'tis  formed, 

So  was  Mary  untainted  by 
original  sin  when  she  was 
conceived  in  her  mother's 
womb. 

Let  us  then  sing  our  sweet- 
est hymn  in  praise  of  a  cloud- 
less brightness,  the  Immacu- 
late Conception. 

Put  on  all  your  joy,  ye 
choirs  of  earth,  and  sing  of 
her,  that  was  a  daughter  of 
Adam,  but  not  of  his  sin. 

May  she  be  pleased  with 
our  hymns,  and  defend  us 
from  all  sin  in  this  our  pre- 
sent life, 

And  when  our  last  hour 
comes,  deliver  us  by  her 
prayers  from  the  abyss  of  hell 
into  which  the  devil  will 
seek  to  drag  us. 

Amen. 


Virginis  Conceptio. 


Mens  amore  inflammetur 
Et  amori  copuletur 
Laus  et  jubilatio. 

Haec  concepta  miro  more 
Est  ut  rosa  cum  nitore, 
Est  ut  candens  lilium. 

Ut  fructus  exit  a  flore, 
Est  producta  cum  pudore, 
Prseventa  per  Filium. 


Sicut  ros  non  corrumpitur, 
Quando  in  terra  gignitur 
Elementi  rubigine  ; 

Sic  Virgo  non  inficitur, 
Quum  in  matre  concipitur, 
Originali  crimine. 

Nos  ergo  dulci  carmine, 
Laudemus  in  hac  Virgine 
Conceptum  sine  nubilo. 

Hanc    conceptam   ex    se- 
mine, 
Et  mundam  ab  origin  e, 
Laudet  chorus  cum  jubilo. 

Ut  mota  dulci  modulo, 
Nos  servet  in  hoc  sseculo 
Mundos  ab  omni  crimine. 

Et  in  mortis  articulo, 
Li  beret  a  periculo 
Et  inferni  voragine. 


Amen. 


PRAYER  FOE  THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 

(The  Mozarabic  Breviary,  Fourth  Sunday  of  Advent, 
Oratio.) 


New  and  unheard  of  tid- 
ings   are    those,  which  the 


Nova    et    inaudita    sunt, 
Domine,  quae  propheticus 
2k 


498 


ADVENT. 


sermo  intonuit  mundo :  quod 
novo  Virginis  partu  salvatio 
exorietur  creaturarum  ;  cu- 
jus  admirabile  incarnationis 
mysterium  quia  devota  cor- 
dium  susceptione  Ecclesia 
suscipit  laetabunda  :  qusesu- 
mus,  ut  in  laudem  ejus  et 
nova  illi  cantica  deferat  et 
accepta  :  ut  cujus  laus  ab 
extremis  terrse  concinitur, 
ejus  voluntas  in  toto  mundo 
a  fidelibus  impleatur.  Amen. 


word  of  thy  prophet,  O 
Lord,  has  announced  to  the 
world :  A  Virgin  shall  bring 
salvation  to  mankind  by 
giving  birth  to  her  Son.  Now, 
therefore,  that  thy  Church, 
filled  with  joy,  is  preparing 
to  receive,  with  great  devo- 
tion, this  admirable  mystery 
of  the  Incarnation  ;  we  be- 
seech thee,  give  her  to  cele- 
brate the  praise  of  the  Incar- 
nate Word  with  new  and 
welcome  canticles :  that  thus, 
he,  whose  praise  is  sung  in 
the  furthermost  parts  of  the 
earth,  may  see  his  will  ful- 
filled by  the  faithful  through- 
out the  universe.    Amen. 


DEC.    16.      ST.   EUSEBIUS.  499 


December  16. 
SAINT  EUSEBIUS,   BISHOP   OF   VERCELLI, 

AND   MARTYR. 


When  asked  to  tell  the  names  of  the  Saints  who 
were  foremost  in  defending  the  dogma  of  the  Incar- 
nation, we  think  at  once  of  the  intrepid  Eusebius  of 
Vercelli,  as  one  of  the  glorious  number.  The 
Catholic  faith,  which  was  so  violently  attacked,  in  the 
fourth  century,  by  the  Arian  heresy,  was  maintained 
at  that  time  by  the  labours  and  zeal  of  four  Sove- 
reign Pontiffs :  Sylvester,  who  confirmed  the  decrees 
of  the  Council  of  Nicasa ;  Julius,  the  supporter  of  St. 
Athanasius;  Liberius,  whose  faith  failed  not,  and 
who,  when  restored  to  his  liberty,  confounded  the 
Arians ;  and,  lastly,  Damasus,  who  destroyed  the 
last  hopes  of  the  heretics.  One  of  these  four  Pon- 
tiffs appears  on  our  Advent  Calendar, — Damasus, 
whose  feast  we  kept  but  a  few  days  since.  The  four 
Popes  have  for  their  fellow-combatants,  in  this  battle 
for  the  Divinity  of  the  Incarnate  Word,  four  great 
Bishops,  of  whom  it  may  be  said,  that  the  defence  of 
the  dogma  of  the  Consubstantiality  of  the  Son  of  God 
was  what  they  lived  for,  and  that  to  say  anathema 
to  them  was  to  say  anathema  to  Christ  himself ;  all 
four  most  powerful  in  word  and  work,  lights  of  the 
Churches  of  the  world,  objects  of  the  people's  love, 
and  the  dauntless  witnesses  of  Jesus.  The  first  and 
greatest  of  the  four  is  the  Bishop  of  the  second  See 


500  ADVENT. 

of  Christendom,  St.  Athanasius,  the  Patriarch  of 
Alexandria ;  the  second  is  St.  Ambrose  of  Milan, 
whose  feast  we  kept  on  the  seventh  of  this  month  ; 
the  third  is  the  glory  of  Gaul,  St.  Hilary,  Bishop  of 
Poitiers;  the  fourth  is  the  ornament  of  Italy,  St. 
Eusebius,  Bishop  of  Vercelli,  whom  we  have  to  honour 
to-day.  Hilary  will  come  to  us  during  Christmas- 
tide,  and  will  stand  at  the  Crib  of  the  Word,  whose 
Divinity  he  so  bravely  confesses  ;  Athanasius  will 
meet  us  at  Easter,  and  help  us  to  celebrate,  in 
the  triumphant  Resurrection,  Him  whom  he  pro- 
claimed as  God  in  those  dark  times,  when  human  wis- 
dom hoped  to  destroy,  by  a  fifty  years  of  peace,  that 
Church  which  had  survived  the  storm  of  three  cen- 
turies of  persecution.  St.  Eusebius' place  is  Advent; 
and  divine  Providence  has  thus  chosen  him  as  one  of 
the  patrons  of  the  faithful  during  this  mystic  season  ; 
his  powerful  prayers  will  help  us  to  come  devoutly  to 
Bethlehem,  and  see  in  the  Child,  that  is  lying  there, 
the  eternal  Word  of  God.  So  great  were  the  suffer- 
ings which  St.  Eusebius  had  to  undergo  for  the  Divi- 
nity of  Jesus,  that  the  Church  awards  him  the  honours 
of  a  Martyr,  although  he  did  not  actually  shed  his 
blood.  Let  us  now  listen  to  the  admirable  account 
which  the  Church  gives  us  of  his  life. 


Eusebius,  natione  Sardus,  Eusebius,  by  birth  a  Sar- 

Romanse  Urbis  Lector,  post  dinian,  was  a  Lector  in  the 

Vercellensis    Episcopus,   ad  Church  at  Rome,  and  after- 

hanc    regendam    Ecclesiam  wards  Bishop  of  Vercelli.  It 

inerito    est    creditus   divino  may  well  be  said  that  it  was 

electus  judicio  :  nam  quern  God  himself  who  chose  him 

imnquam     ante      constituti  to    be    the    pastor    of    this 

Electores  cognoverant,  post-  Church ;    for    the    Electors, 

habitis  civibus,  simul  nt  vi-  who  had  never  before  seen 

derunt,  et  probaverunt,  tan-  him,  no  sooner  set  their  eyes 

tumque    interfuit     ut     pro-  upon  him,  than  they  prefer- 

baretur,    quantum  ut  vide-  red  him  before  all  their  fel- 

retur.     Primus  in  Occidentis  low- citizens  ;    and    this    in- 

partibus  in  eadem  Ecclesia  stantly,  and  as  soon  as  they 


DEC.    16.      ST.  EUSEBIUS. 


501 


first  saw  him.  Eusebius  was 
the  first  of  the  Bishops  in  the 
Western  Church,  who  estab- 
lished Monks  in  his  Church 
to  exercise  the  functions  of 
the  Clergy  ;  he  did  it  in  order 
that  he  might  thus  unite,  in 
the  same  persons,  the  detach- 
ment from  riches  and  the 
dignity  of  Levites.  It  was 
during  this  time  that  the  im- 
pious doctrines  of  the  Arians 
were  devastating  the  whole 
of  the  West  ;  and  so  vigor- 
ously did  Eusebius  attack 
them,  that  Pope  Liberius' 
greatest  consolation  was  the 
unflinching  faith  of  this  holy 
man.  It  was  on  this  account, 
that  the  same  Pope,  knowing 
that  the  Spirit  of  God  burned 
in  Eusebius'  soul,  commis- 
sioned him  to  go,  accompa- 
nied by  his  Legates,  to  the 
Emperor,  and  plead  the  cause 
of  the  true  Faith.  Eusebius 
and  the  Legates  being  come 
before  Constantius,  the  Saint 
pleaded  so  powerfully,  that 
the  Emperor  granted  what 
he  asked,  namely,  that  a 
council  of  the  Bishops  should 
be  convened. 

That  Council  was  held  the 
following  year,  at  Milan  ; 
Eusebius  was  invited  by  Con- 
stantius to  be  present  at  it, 
which  was  what  the  Legates 
of  Liberius  had  desired 
and  begged.  So  far  was  he 
from  being  duped  by  the 
synagogue  of  the  malicious 
Arians  to  side  with  them 
against  St.  Athanasius,  that 
he  openly  declared  from  the 
first   that   several   of    those 


eosdem  Monachos  instituit 
esse  quos  Clericos,  ut  esset 
in  ipsis  viris  contemptus  re- 
rum,  et  accuratio  Levitarum. 
Arianis  impietatibus  ea  teni- 
pestate  per  Occidentem  longe 
lateque  traductis,  adversus 
eas  viriliter  sic  dimicavit,  ut 
ejus  invicta  fides  Liberium, 
summum  Pontificem,  ad  vitas 
solatium  erigeret.  Quare  hie 
sciens,  in  ipso  fervere  Spiri- 
tum  Dei,  quum  ei  significas- 
set  ut  penes  Imperatorem, 
una  cum  suis  legatis  patroci- 
nium  Fidei  susciperet,  mox 
cum  illis  profectus  est  ad 
Constantium,  apud  quern 
enixius  agens,  quidquid  lega- 
tione  petebatur,  obtinuit,  ut 
Episcoporum  nempe  ccetus 
celebraretur. 


Collectum  est  Mediolani 
anno  sequent!  concilium,  ad 
quod  a  Constantio  invitatum 
Eusebium,  concupitumque 
ac  vocatum  a  Liberii  legatis, 
tantum  ab  est  ut  malignan- 
tium  synagoga  Arianorum 
contra  sanctum  Athanasium 
f  urentium  in  suas  partes  ad- 
duceret,  ut  potius  diserte 
statim  ipse  declarans,  e  prae- 
sentibus  quosdam  sibi  com- 
pertos  hseretica  labe  pollutos 


502 


ADVENT. 


Mcsenam  imo  Fidem  propo- 
suerit  iis  subscribendam,  an- 
tequaru  csetera  tractarentur. 
Quod  Arianis  acerbe  iratis 
negantibus,  nedum  in  Atha- 
nasium  recusavit  ipse  sub- 
scribere  :  quin  sancti  Dionysii 
Martyris,  qui  deceptus  ab 
ipsis  subscripserat,  captiva- 
tam  simplicitatem  ingenio- 
sissime  liberavit.  Quamo- 
brem  illi  graviter  indignantes, 
post  multas  illatas  injurias, 
exsilio  ilium  mulctarunt ;  sed 
sanctus  vir  excusso  pulvere, 
nee  Csesaris  minas  veritus, 
nee  enses  obstrictos,  exsilium 
veluti  sui  ministerii  officium 
accepit,  missusque  Scythopo- 
lim,  famem,  sitim,  verbera 
diversaque  supplicia  perpes- 
sus,  pro  fide  strenue  vitam 
contempsit,  mortem  non  me- 
tuit,  corpus  carnificibus  tra- 
didit. 


Quanta  in  eum  tunc  Aria- 
norum  crudelitas  fuerit,  ac 
effrons  inverecundia,  osten- 
dunt  graves  litterae  plense 
rob  oris,  pietatis  ac  religionis, 
quas  e  Scythopoli  scripsit  ad 
Vercellensem  clerum  et  po- 
pulum,  aliosque  finitimos,  e 


present  were  known  to  him 
to  be  heretics,  and  he  there- 
fore proposed  that  they  should 
subscribe  to  the  Nicene  Creed 
before  proceeding  any  fur- 
ther. This  the  Arians,  infu- 
riated with  anger,  refused  to 
do  ;  whereupon,  he  not  only 
refused  to  subscribe  to  what 
was  drawn  up  against  Atha- 
nasius,  but  he  also,  by  a  most 
ingenious  device,  succeeded 
in  having  the  name  of  St. 
Denis  the  Martyr  blotted  out 
from  the  decree,  which  the 
craft  of  the  Arians  had  in- 
duced him  to  sign.  Where- 
fore, they  being  exceeding 
angry  against  Eusebius, 
loaded  him  with  injuries,  and 
had  him  sent  into  banish- 
ment. The  holy  man,  on  his 
side,  shaking  off  the  dust 
from  his  feet,  caring  little 
either  for  the  threats  of  the 
Emperor,  or  the  sword  which 
was  held  over  him,  submit- 
ted to  banishment  as  to  some- 
thing which  belonged  to  his 
episcopal  office.  Being  sent 
to  Scythopolis,  he  there  en- 
dured hunger,  thirst,  blows, 
and  sundry  other  punish- 
ments ;  he  generously  de- 
spised his  life  for  the  true 
faith,  feared  not  death,  and 
gave  up  his  body  to  the  exe- 
cutioners. 

How  much  he  had  to  put 
up  with  from  the  cruelty  and 
insolence  of  the  Arians,  we 
learn  from  the  admirable  let- 
ters, full  of  energy,  piety,  and 
religion,  which  he  addressed, 
from  Scythopolis,  to  the 
clergy  and  people  of  Yercelli, 


DEC.    16,      ST.   EXJSEBIUS. 


503 


and  to  other  persons  of  the 
neighbouring  country.  It  is  , 
evident  from  these  letters 
that  the  heretics  were  unable, 
either  by  their  threats  or  by 
their  inhuman  treatment,  to 
shake  his  constancy,  or  to  in- 
duce him  by  the  craft  of  their 
flattery  or  arguments  to  join 
their  party.  Thence  he  was 
taken  into  Cappadocia,  and 
lastly  into  Thebais  of  Upper 
Egypt,  in  punishment  of  his 
refusing  to  yield.  Thus  did 
he  suffer  the  hardships  of 
exile  until  the  death  of  Con- 
stantius :  after  which  he  was 
allowed  to  return  to  his  flock; 
but  this  he  would  not  do, 
until  he  had  assisted  at  the 
Council  which  was  being  held 
at  Alexandria  for  the  purpose 
of  repairing  the  injuries  done 
by  heresy.  This  done,  he 
travelled  through  the  pro- 
vinces of  the  East,  endea- 
vouring, like  a  clever  physi- 
cian, to  restore  to  perfect 
health  such  as  were  weak  in 
the  faith,  by  instructing  them 
in  the  doctrine  of  the  Church. 
Animated  by  the  like  zeal  for 
the  salvation  of  souls,  he 
passed  over  into  Illyricum  ; 
and  having  at  length  returned 
to  Italy,  that  country  put  off 
its  mourning.  He  there  pub- 
lished the  commentaries  of 
Origen  and  Eusebius  of  Cse- 
sarea  on  the  Psalms,  which 
two  works  he  translated  from 
the  Greek  into  Latin,  with 
such  corrections  as  were 
needed.  At  length,  having 
rendered  himself  celebrated 
by  a  life  spent  in  such  actions 


quibus  etiam  est  exploratum, 
ipsorum  nee  minis  inhuma- 
naque  seevitia  potuisse  un- 
quam  eum  deterreri,  nee  ser- 
pentina blanda  subtilitate  ad 
eorum  societatem  perduci. 
Hinc  in  Cappadociam,  pos- 
tremoque  ad  superiores 
iEgypti  Thebaidos  prse  con- 
stantia  ^  sua  deportantibus, 
exsilii  rigores  tulitad  mortem 
usque  Constantii,  post  quam 
ad  gregem  suum  reverti  per- 
missus,  non  prius  redire  vo- 
luit,  quam  reparandis  fidei 
jacturis  ad  Alexandrinam 
Synodum  sese  conferret ; 
postque  medici  prsestantis  in- 
star  peragrans  Orientis  pro- 
vincias,  in  fide  infirmos  ad 
integram  valetudinein  resti- 
tueret,  eos  instituens  in  Ec- 
clesise  doctrina.  Inde  salu- 
britate  pari,  digresso  in  Illy- 
ricum, tandemque  in  Italiam 
delato,  ad  ejus  reditum,  lugu- 
bres  vestes  Italia  mutavit, 
ubi  postquam  Psalmorum 
omnium  expurgatos  a  se  com- 
mentarios  Origenis  edidit, 
Eusebiique  Csesareensis  quos 
verterat  de  Graeco  in  Lati- 
num  ;  demum  tot  egregie 
factis  illustris  ad  immarces- 
cibilem  gloriaecoronamtantis 
serumnis  promeritam  sub  Va- 
lentiniano,  et  Valente,  Ver- 
cellis  migravit. 


504  ADVENT. 

as  these,  lie  died  at  Vercelli, 
in  the  reign  of  Valentinian 
and  Valens,  and  went  to  re- 
ceive the  immortal  crown  of 
glory  which  his  so  many  and 
great  sufferings  had  merited 
for  him. 

Valiant  Soldier  of  Jesus,  Eusebius,  Martyr  and 
Pontiff,  how  much  labour  and  suffering  thou  didst 
undergo  for  the  Messias  !  And  yet,  they  seemed  to 
thee  to  be  little  in  comparison  with  what  is  due  to 
this  eternal  Word  of  the  Father,  who,  out  of  his  pure 
love,  has  made  himself  the  Servant  of  his  own  crea- 
tures, by  becoming  Man  for  them  in  the  mystery  of 
the  Incarnation.  We  owe  the  same  debt  of  gratitude 
to  this  divine  Saviour.  He  is  born  in  a  stable  for 
our  sakes,  as  he  was  for  thine ;  pray,  therefore,  for  us 
that  we  may  be  ever  faithful  to  him  both  in  war  and 
peace ;  and  that  we  may  resist  our  temptations  and 
evil  inclinations  with  that  same  firmness,  wherewith 
we  would  confess  his  name  before  tyrants  and  perse- 
cutors. Obtain  for  the  Bishops  of  our  holy  Mother 
the  Church,  such  vigilance,  that  no  false  doctrines 
may  surprise  them,  and  such  courage  that  no  perse- 
cution may  make  them  yield.  May  they  be  faithful 
imitators  of  the  divine  Pastor,  who  gives  his  life  for 
his  sheep ;  and  may  they  ever  feed  the  flock,  in- 
trusted to  them,  in  the  unity  and  charity  of  Jesus 
Christ. 


Let  us  consider  how  our  Blessed  Lady,  having  re- 
turned to  Nazareth,  is  overwhelmed  with  joy  to  feel 
living  within  her  Him,  who  gives  being  to  every 
created  thing,  and  whom  she  loves  with  all  the  in- 
tensity of  the  Mother  of  God.  Joseph,  the  faithful 
guardian  of  her  virginity,  tenderly  loves  this  his 
Spouse,  and  blesses  God  for  having  intrusted  such  a 
treasure  to  his  keeping.     The  Angels  crowd  round 


DEC.   16.      ST.   EUSEBIUS.  505 

this  favoured  house  wherein  dwell  their  sovereign 
Lord,  and  she  whom  he  has  chosen  to  be  his  Mother. 
Never  was  there  happiness  like  that  which  fills  this 
little  dwelling  ;  and  yet,  God  has  decreed  to  visit  it 
with  a  heavy  trial,  in  order  that  he  may  give  an  occa- 
sion to  Mary  to  exercise  heroic  patience,  and  to  Joseph 
an  occasion  of  meriting  by  his  exquisite  prudence. 
Let  us  listen  to  the  Meditation  of  St.  Bona  venture, 
in  which  he  thus  ponders  the  Gospel  narrative  : 

"Bat  while  our  Lady  and  Joseph  her  Spouse  were 
thus  dwelling  together,  the  Infant  Jesus  grew  within 
his  Mother's  womb.  Then  Joseph  perceiving  that 
Mary  was  with  Child,  he  was  above  all  measure 
grieved.  Here  give,  I  pray  thee,  all  thine  attention, 
for  thou  hast  many  fair  things  to  learn.  If  thou 
wouldst  know  wherefore  it  was  that  our  Lord  wished 
that  his  Mother  should  have  a  husband,  whereas  he 
always  wished  that  she  should  be  a  Virgin,  I  answer 
thee  that  he  so  wished  on  three  accounts  :  firstly, 
that  she  might  not  be  disgraced  when  it  was  seen 
that  she  was  a  Mother  :  secondly,  that  she  might  have 
Joseph's  aid  and  company ;  and  thirdly,  that  the  birth 
of  the  Son  of  God  might  be  concealed  from  the  devil. 

"  Now,  Joseph  did  look  many  times  on  Mary,  and 
grief  and  trouble  of  heart  fell  upon  him,  and  his 
displeasure  was  seen  in  his  face,  and  he  turned  his 
eyes  away  from  her  as  one  that  was  guilty  of  that 
which  he  perforce  suspected.  See  how  God  permits 
his  servants  to  be  afflicted  and  sorely  tried,  that  they 
may  so  receive  their  crown.  Now,  Joseph  was  minded 
to  put  her  away  privately.  In  very  truth  may  it  be 
said  of  this  holy  man,  that  his  praise  is  in  the 
Gospel,  for  the  Gospel  says  of  him  that  he  was  a 
just  man,  that  is,  a  man  of  great  virtue.  For  albeit 
they  say,  that  no  shame,  nor  suffering,  nor  insult  can 
befal  a  man  so  grievous  as  that  of  his  wife's  unfaith- 
fulness ;  yet  did  Joseph  restrain  himself  withal,  and 
would  not  accuse  Mary,  but  bore  this  great  injury 


506  ADVENT. 

patiently.  He  sought  not  bow  to  avenge  himself, 
but,  overcome  with  pity,  and  wishing  to  forgive,  he 
was  minded  to  put  her  away  privately.  But  herein 
also  had  our  Lady  her  share  of  tribulation,  for  she 
took  notice  of  Joseph's  trouble,  and  it  sorely  grieved 
her.  Yet  did  she  humbly  hold  her  peace,  and  hide 
the  gift  of  God.  Better  did  it  seem  unto  her  that  evil 
should  be  thought  of  her,  than  that  she  should  reveal 
the  divine  Mystery,  and  say  aught  of  herself  which 
would  come  nigh  to  boasting.  Therefore  did  she 
beseech  our  Lord  that  himself  would  right  this  matter, 
and  make  pass  this  grief  from  Joseph  and  herself. 
Here  thou  mayest  learn  what  great  tribulation  and 
anxiety  was  theirs.  But  God  came  unto  their  as- 
sistance. 

"  He  therefore  sent  his  Angel,  who  spake  unto 
Joseph  in  his  sleep,  and  told  him  that  his  Spouse  had 
conceived  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  that  he  was  to 
abide  with  her  in  all  surety  and  joy.  Whereupon, 
the  tribulation  ceased,  and  they  were  both  exceedingly 
comforted.  So  likewise  would  it  befal  us  if  we  would 
suffer  patiently,  for  after  a  storm  God  brings  a  calm. 
Neither  oughtest  thou  to  doubt  this,  for  God  sufXereth 
not  his  servants  to  be  afflicted  save  for  their  good. 
After  this,  Joseph  requested  our  Lady  to  narrate 
unto  him  what  had  happened  ;  and  she  faithfully 
narrated  all  unto  him.  Whereupon  Joseph  remains 
with  his  Blessed  Spouse,  and  lives  with  her  in  all 
contentment,  and  loves  her  above  what  words  can 
say,  and  diligently  provides  her  whatsoever  she 
needed.  So  also  our  Lady  continues  to  remain  con- 
fidently with  Joseph,  and  they  live  right  joyfully  in 
their  poverty." 


DEC.    16.      ST.    EUSEBIUS. 


507 


PRAYER   FOR   THE   TIME   OF   ADVENT. 

{The  Mozarabic  Breviary,  Wednesday  of  the  First  Week  of 
Advent,  Capitula.) 


O  God,  to  whom  the  whole 
earth  proclaims  its  glad 
praise  ;  whose  glory  is  cele- 
brated in  the  sweet  melody 
of  the  Psalms  ;  and  whose 
mighty  power  is  confessed 
by  thy  works  ;  make  known 
thy  Saviour  unto  all  of  us 
thy  servants.  Reveal  thy 
justice,  whereby  we  may  ac- 
knowledge thee  to  be  our 
Creator  :  and  be  mindful  of 
thy  mercy,  whereby  we  may 
deserve  to  find  the  forgive- 
ness of  our  sins ;  that  seeing 
the  Saviour  whom  thou 
sendest,  we  may  hymn  thee 
our  hymns  of  joy,  and  sing 
our  Psalms  in  gladness,  and 
deserve  to  enjoy  the  reward 
of  thy  blessed  sight.     Amen. 


Deus,  cui  omnis  terra  prse- 
conans  jubilat  laudem  ;  cujus 
gloriam  canora  Psalmi  con- 
clamant  voce  ;  cujusque  ter- 
ribilem  in  tuis  operibus  fa- 
tentur  virtutem ;  notum  f  acito 
Salutare  tuum  in  conspectu 
omnium  nostrum.  Revela 
justitiam  tuam,  qua  possimus 
te  nostrum  agnoscere  creato- 
rem  :  et  esto  memor  miseri- 
eordiae  tuse,  qua  nostrorum 
criminum  mereamur  invenire 
remissionem  :  ut  videntes  Sa- 
lutare tuum,  jubilemus  tibi 
hymnum,  cantemus  in  exsul- 
tatione  Psalm um,  et  perfrui 
mereamur  tuae  beatitudinis 
praemio.    Amen. 


508  ADVENT. 


December  17. 

the  commencement 
OF   THE   GREAT  ANTIPHONS. 


The  Church  enters  to-day  on  the  seven  days,  which, 
precede  the  Vigil  of  Christmas,  and  which  are  known 
in  the  Liturgy  under  the  name  of  the  Greater  Ferias. 
The  ordinary  of  the  Advent  Office  becomes  more 
solemn  ;  the  Antiphons  of  the  Psalms,  both  for  Lauds 
and  the  Hours  of  the  day,  are  proper,  and  allude  ex- 
pressly to  the  great  Coming.  Every  day,  at  Vespers, 
is  sung  a  solemn  Antiphon,  which  consists  of  a  fervent 
prayer  to  the  Messias,  whom  it  addresses  by  one  of 
the  titles  given  him  by  the  sacred  Scriptures. 

In  the  Roman  Church,  there  are  seven  of  these 
Antiphons,  one  for  each  of  the  Greater  Ferias.  They 
are  commonly  called  the  O's  of  Advent,  because  they 
all  begin  with  that  interjection.  In  other  Churches, 
during  the  Middle  Ages,  two  more  were  added  to 
these  seven  ;  one  to  our  Blessed  Lady,  0  Virgo  Vir- 
ginum ;  and  the  other  to  the  Angel  Gabriel,  0 
Gabriel ;  or  to  St.  Thomas  the  Apostle,  whose  feast 
comes  during  the  Greater  Ferias ;  it  began  0  Thoma 
Didyme.1  There  were  even  Churches,  where  twelve 
Great  Antiphons  were  sung;  that  is,  besides  the 
nine  we  have  just  mentioned,  there  was  0  Rex 
Pacifice  to  our  Lord,  0  Mundi  Domino,  to  our  Lady, 
and  0  Hierusalem  to  the  city  of  the  people  of  God. 

1  It  is  more  modern  than  the  0  Gabriel ;  but  dating  from  the 
13th  century,  it  was  almost  universally  used  in  its  stead. 


dec.  17.  509 

The  canonical  Hour  of  Vespers  has  been  selected 
as  the  most  appropriate  time  for  this  solemn  suppli- 
cation to  our  Saviour,  because,  as  the  Church  sings 
in  one  of  her  hymns,  it  was  in  the  Evening  of  the 
world  (vergente  mundi  vespere)  that  the  Messias 
came  amongst  us.  These  Antiphons  are  sung  at  the 
Magnificat,  to  show  us  that  the  Saviour,  whom  we 
expect,  is  to  come  to  us  by  Mary.  They  are  sung 
twice  ;  once  before  and  once  after  the  Canticle,  as  on 
Double  Feasts,  and  this  to  show  their  great  solemnity. 
In  some  Churches  it  was  formerly  the  practice  to  sing 
them  thrice ;  that  is,  before  the  Canticle,  before  the 
Gloria  Patri,  and  after  the  Sicut  erat.  Lastly,  these 
admirable  Antiphons,  which  contain  the  whole  pith 
of  the  Advent  Liturgy,  are  accompanied  by  a  chant 
replete  with  melodious  gravity,  and  by  ceremonies  of 
great  expressiveness,  though,  in  these  latter,  there  is 
no  uniform  practice  followed.  Let  us  enter  into  the 
spirit  of  the  Church;  let  us  reflect  on  the  great  Day 
which  is  coming ;  that  thus  we  may  take  our  share 
in  these  the  last  and  most  earnest  solicitations  of  the 
Church  imploring  her  Spouse  to  come,  and  to  which 
He  at  length  yields. 

FIEST  ANTIPHOK 

O  Wisdom,  that  proceedest  O   Sapientia,   quse  ex  ore 

from  the  mouth  of  the  Most  Altissimi  prodiisti,  attingens 

High,  reaching  from  end  to  a  fine  usque  ad  finem,  forti- 

end,    disposing     all     things  ter,    suaviterque    disponens 

with  strength  and  sweetness  !  omnia  ;   veni  ad  docendum 

come  and  teach  us  the  way  nos  viam  prudentiae. 
of  prudence. 

O  Uncreated  Wisdom  !  that  art  so  soon  to  make 
thyself  visible  to  thy  creatures,  truly  thou  disposest  all 
things.  It  is  by  thy  permission,  that  the  Emperor 
Augustus  issues  a  decree  ordering  the  enrolment  of 
the  whole  world.  Each  citizen  of  the  vast  Empire  is 
to  have  his  name  enrolled  in  the  city  of  his  birth. 


510  ADVENT. 

This  prince  has  no  other  object  in  this  order,  which 
sets  the  world  in  motion,  but  his  own  ambition. 
Men  go  to  and  fro  by  millions,  and  an  unbroken  pro- 
cession traverses  the  immense  Roman  world  ;  men 
think  they  are  doing  the  bidding  of  man,  and  it  is 
God  whom  they  are  obeying.  This  world-wide  agi- 
tation has  really  but  one  object;  it  is.  to  bring  to 
Bethlehem  a  man  and  woman  who  live  at  Nazareth 
in  Galilee,  in  order  that  this  woman,  who  is  unknown 
to  the  world  but  dear  to  heaven,  and  is  at  the  close 
of  the  ninth  month  since  she  conceived  her  child, 
may  give  birth  to  this  Child  in  Bethlehem,  for  the 
Prophet  has  said  of  him :  "  His  going  forth  is  from 
"  the  beginning,  from  the  days  of  eternity.  And 
"  thou,  O  Bethlehem !  art  not  the  least  among  the 
"  thousand  cities  of  Juda,  for  out  of  thee  He  shall 
"  come."1  O  divine  Wisdom  !  how  strong  art  thou, 
in  thus  reaching  thine  ends  by  means  which  are  in- 
fallible, though  hidden  !  and  yet,  how  sweet,  offering 
no  constraint  to  man's  free-will !  and  withal,  how 
fatherly,  in  providing  for  our  necessities !  Thou 
choosest  Bethlehem  for  thy  birth-place,  because 
Bethlehem  signifies  the  House  of  Bread.  In  this,  thou 
teachest  us  that  thou  art  our  Bread,  the  nourishment 
and  support  of  our  life.  With  God  as  our  food,  we 
cannot  die.  O  Wisdom  of  the  Father,  Living  Bread 
that  hast  descended  from  heaven,  come  speedily  into 
us,  that  thus  we  may  approach  to  thee  and  be  en- 
lightened2 by  thy  light,  and  by  that  prudence  which 
leads  to  salvation. 

PRAYER  FOR  THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 

{The  Mozarabic  Breviary,  Fourth  Sunday  of  Advent, 
Oratio.) 

Christe,  Dei  Filius,  qui  in        0  Jesus,  Son  of  God !  born 
mundo  per  Virginem  natus,    of -a  Virgin  !  whose  Nativity 

Mich.  v.  2  ;  St.  Matth.  ii.  6.  2  Ps.  xxxiii.  6. 


DEC.    17. 


511 


struck  the  nations  with  ter- 
ror, and  compelled  kings  to 
reverence  thee  ;  grant  unto 
us  the  beginning  of  Wisdom, 
which  is  thy  fear ;  that  we 
may  thereby  yield  fruit,  and 
render  thee,  by  our  advance- 
ment in  the  same,  the  fruits 
of  peace.  O  thou  that  didst 
come  like  a  torrent  to  call 
the  nations,  and  wast  born 
on  earth  for  the  conversion 
of  sinners,  show  unto  us  the 
gift  of  thy  grace,  whereby  all 
fear  being  removed,  we  may 
ever  follow  thee  by  the  chaste 
love  of  inward  charity. 
Amen. 


ISTativitatis  tuae  terrore  et 
regna  concutis,  et  reges  ad- 
mirari  compellis,  praebe  no- 
bis initium  Sapientiae,  quod 
est  timor  tuus  ;  ut  in  eo  fruc- 
tificemur,  in  eo  etiam  profici- 
entes,  fructum  tibi  pacatissi- 
mum  offeramus  :  ut,  qui  ad 
gentium  vocationem,  quasi 
fluvius  violentus,  accessisti  ; 
nasciturus  in  terris  ad  con- 
versionem  peccantium,  mani- 
festa  tuae  gratias  donum :  quo, 
repulso  terrore  formidinis, 
casto  te  semper  sequamur 
amore  intimae  charitatis. 
Amen. 


512  ADVENT. 


December    18. 


SECOND  ANTIPHON. 

O  Adonai,  et  dux  domus  O  Adonai,   and  leader  of 

Israel,   qui    Moysi  in    igne  the  house  of  Israel,  who  ap- 

flammae   rubi  apparuisti,  et  pearedst  to  Moses  in  the  fire 

ei  in   Sina    legem    dedisti  ;  of  the  flaming  bush,  and  gav- 

veni  ad  redimendum  nos  in  est  him  the  law  on   Sinai ; 

brachio  extenso.  come  and  redeem  us  by  thy 

outstretched  arm. 

O  Sovereign  Lord  !  0  Adonai !  come  and  redeem 
us,  not  by  thy  power,  but  by  thy  humility.  Heretofore, 
thou  didst  show  thyself  to  Moses  thy  servant  in  the 
midst  of  a  mysterious  flame ;  thou  didst  give  thy  law 
to  thy  people  amidst  thunder  and  lightning ;  now,  on 
the  contrary,  thou  comest  not  to  terrify,  but  to  save 
us.  Thy  chaste  Mother  having  heard  the  Emperor's 
edict,  which  obliges  her  and  Joseph  her  Spouse  to 
repair  to  Bethlehem,  she  prepares  everything  needed 
for  thy  divine  Birth.  She  prepares  for  thee,  O  Sun 
of  Justice!  the  humble  swathing-bands,  wherewith 
to  cover  thy  nakedness,  and  protect  thee,  the  Creator 
of  the  world,  from  the  cold  of  that  mid-night  hour  of 
thy  Nativity  !  Thus  it  is  that  thou  wiliest  to  deliver 
us  from  the  slavery  of  our  pride,  and  show  man  that 
thy  divine  arm  is  never  stronger  than  when  he  thinks 
it  powerless  and  still.  Everything  is  prepared,  then, 
dear  Jesus !  thy  swathing-bands  are  ready  for  thy 
infant  limbs  !  come  to  Bethlehem,  and  redeem  us 
from  the  hands  of  o  ur  enemies. 


DEC.    18.      EXPECTATION   OF   THE   B.   VIRGIN.     513 


THE   SAME  DAY. 

THE     EXPECTATION 

OF  THE  BLESSED   VIRGIN  MARY. 


This  Feast,  which  is  now  kept,  not  only  throughout 
the  whole  of  Spain,  but  in  almost  all  the  Churches  of 
the  Catholic  world,  owes  its  origin  to  the  Bishops  of 
the  tenth  Councirof  Toledo,  in  656.  These  Prelates 
having  thought  that  there  was  an  incongruity  in  the 
ancient  practice  of  celebrating  the  feast  of  the  Annun- 
ciation on  the  twenty-fifth  of  March,  inasmuch  as  this 
joyful  solemnity  frequently  occurs  at  the  time  when 
the  Church  is  intent  upon  the  Passion  of  our  Lord, 
and  is  sometimes  obliged  to  be  transferred  into  Easter 
Time,  with  which  it  is  out  of  harmony  for  another 
reason ;— they  decreed  that,  henceforth,  in  the  Church 
of  Spain  there  should  be  kept,  eight  days  before 
Christmas,  a  solemn  Feast  with  an  Octave,  in  honour 
of  the  Annunciation,  and  as  a  preparation  for  the 
great  solemnity  of  our  Lord's  Nativity.  In  course  of 
time,  however,  the  Church  of  Spain  saw  the  necessity 
of  returning  to  the  practice  of  the  Church  of  Rome, 
and  of  those  of  the  whole  world,  which  solemnise  the 
twenty-fifth  of  March  as  the  day  of  our  Lady's  Annun- 
ciation and  the  Incarnation  of  the  Son  of  God.  But 
such  had  been,  for  ages,  the  devotion  of  the  people 
for  the  Feast  of  the  eighteenth  of  December,  that  it 
was  considered  requisite  to  maintain  some  vestige  of 
it.  They  discontinued,  therefore,  to  celebrate  the 
Annunciation   on  this   day ;   but  the  faithful  were 

2  L 


514  ADVENT. 

requested  to  consider,  with  devotion,  what  must  have 
been  the  sentiments  of  the  Holy  Mother  of  God 
during  the  days  immediately  preceding  her  giving 
him  birth.  A  new  Feast  was  instituted,  under  the 
name  of  the  Expectation  of  the  Blessed  Virgins  De- 
livery. 

This  Feast,  which  sometimes  goes  under  the  name 
of  Our  Lady  of  0,  or  the  Feast  of  0,  on  account  of 
the  Great  Antiphons  which  are  sung  during  these 
days,  and,  in  a  special  manner,  of  that  which  begins 
0  Virgo  Virginum  (which  is  still  used  in  the  Vespers 
of  the  Expectation,  together  with  the  0  Adonai,  the 
Antiphon  of  the  Advent  Office,) — is  kept  with  great 
devotion  in  Spain.  A  High  Mass  is  sung,  at  a  very 
early  hour,  each  morning  during  the  Octave,  at  which 
all  who  are  with  child,  whether  rich  or  poor,  consider 
it  a  duty  to  assist,  that  they  may  thus  honour  our 
Lady's  Maternity,  and  beg  her  blessing  upon  them- 
selves. It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  Holy 
See  has  approved  of  this  pious  practice  being  intro- 
duced into  almost  every  other  country.  We  find  that 
the  Church  of  Milan,  long  before  Rome  conceded  this 
feast  to  the  various  dioceses  of  Christendom, celebrated 
the  Office  of  our  Lady's  Annunciation  on  the  sixth 
and  last  Sunday  of  Advent,  and  called  the  whole  week 
following  the  Hebdomada  de  Exceptato  (for  thus  the 
popular  expression  had  corrupted  the  word  Expectato). 
But  these  details  belong  strictly  to  the  archaeology  of 
Liturgy,  and  enter  not  into  the  plan  of  our  present 
work  ;  let  us,  then,  return  to  the  Feast  of  our  Lady's 
Expectation,  which  the  Church  has  established  and 
sanctioned  as  a  new  means  of  exciting  the  attention 
of  the  faithful  during  these  last  days  of  Advent. 

Most  just  indeed  it  is,  0  Holy  Mother  of  God,  that 
we  should  unite  in  that  ardent  desire  thou  hadst  to  see 
Him,  who  had  been  concealed  for  nine  months  in  thy 
chaste  womb ;  to  know  the  features  of  this  Son  of  the 
heavenly  Father,  who  is  also  thine  ;  to  come  to  that 


DEC.    18.      EXPECTATION  OF  THE  B.    VIRGIN.     515 

blissful  hour  of  his  Birth,  which  will  give  Glory  to 
God  in  the  highest,  and,  on  earth,  Peace  to  men  of 
good- will.  Yes,  dear  Mother,  the  time  is  fast  ap- 
proaching, though  not  fast  enough  to  satisfy  thy 
desires  and  ours.  Make  us  redouble  our  attention 
to  the  great  mystery ;  complete  our  preparation  by 
thy  powerful  prayers  for  us,  that  when  the  solemn 
hour  is  come,  our  Jesus  may  rind  no  obstacle  to  his 
entering  into  our  hearts. 


THE  GREAT  ANTIPHON  TO  OUR  LADY. 

O  Virgin  of  virgins !  how  O   Virgo   virginum,   quo- 

shall  this  be1?  for  never  was  modo   net  istucU    quia  nee 

there  one  like  thee,  nor  will  primam  similem  visa  es,  nee 

there  ever  be.     Ye  daughters  habere     sequentem.      Filiae 

of   Jerusalem,  why  look  ye  Jerusalem,  quid  me  admira- 

wondering  at  me  1    What  ye  mini  1    Divinum  est  myste- 

behold,  is  a  divine  mystery.  rium  hoc  quod  cernitis. 


16  ADVENT. 


De  CEMBES     1  9 


THIRD   ANTIPHON. 

O  radix  Jesse,  qui  stas  in  O  Root  of  Jesse,  who  stand- 

signum     populorum,     super  est   as  the  standard  of  the 

quern  continebunt  reges   os  people ;  before  whom  Kings 

suum,   quern   gentes    depre-  shall  not  open  their  lips  ;  to 

cabuntur  :  veni   ad  liberan-  whom  the  nations  shall  pray  : 

dum  nos,  jam  noli  tardare.  come  and  deliver  us  ;  tarry- 
now  no  more. 

At  length,  0  Son  of  Jesse  !  thou  art  approaching 
the  city  of  thy  ancestors.  The  Ark  of  the  Lord  has 
risen,  and  journeys;  with  the  God  that  is  in  her,  to 
the  place  of  her  rest.  "  How  beautiful  are  thy  steps, 
"  O  thou  daughter  of  the  Prince,"1  now  that  thou  art 
bringing  to  the  cities  of  Juda  their  salvation  !  The 
Angels  escort  thee,  thy  faithful  Joseph  lavishes  his 
love  upon  thee,  heaven  delights  in  thee,  and  our 
earth  thrills  with  joy  to  bear  thus  upon  itself  its 
Creator  and  its  Queen.  Go  forward,  O  Mother  of 
God  and  Mother  of  Men  !  Speed  thee,  thou  Pro- 
pitiatory that  holdest  within  thee  the  divine  Manna 
which  gives  us  life !  Our  hearts  are  with  thee,  and 
count  thy  steps.  Like  thy  royal  ancestor  David, 
"  we  will  enter  not  into  the  dwelling  of  our  house,  nor 
"  go  up  into  the  bed  whereon  we  lie,  nor  give  sleep 
"  to  our  eyes,  nor  rest  to  our  temples,  until  we  have 
"  found  a  place  in  our  hearts  for  the  Lord  whom  thou 
11  bedrest,  a  tabernacle  for  this  God  of  Jacob."2  Come, 
then,  0  Root  of  Jesse  !  thus  hid  in  this  Ark  of  purity  ; 

1  Cant.  vii.  1.  2  Ps.  cxxxi.  3,  4,  5. 


DEC.    19. 


517 


thou  wilt  soon  appear  before  thy  people  as  the  stan- 
dard round  which  all  that  would  conquer  must  rally. 
Then,  their  enemies,  the  Kings  of  the  world,  will  be 
silenced,  and  the  nations  will  offer  thee  their  prayers. 
Hasten  thy  coming,  dear  Jesus  !  come  and  conquer 
all  our  enemies,  and  deliver  us. 


RESPONSORY  OF  ADVENT. 


{The  Ambrosian  Breviary,  Sixth  Sunday  of  Advent.) 


I£.  Blessed  is  the  womb  of 
the  Virgin  Mary,  which  bore 
the  invisible  God  :  there  did 
He  deign  to  dwell,  whom 
Seven  Thrones  cannot  hold  :* 
And  she  bore  him  as  a  light 
weight  in  her  womb.  $".  The 
Lord  hath  given  him  the 
throne  of  David  his  father, 
and  he  shall  reign  in  the  house 
of  Jacob  for  ever,  and  of  his 
kingdom  there  shall  be  no 
end  :  *  And  she  bore  him  as 
a  light  weight  in  her  womb. 


I£.  Beatus  uterus  Marias 
Virginis  qui  portavit  invi- 
sibilem  :  quern  septem  throni 
capere  non  possunt  in  eo 
habitare  dignatus  est  :  *  Et 
portabat  levem  in  sinu  suo. 
$".  Dedit  illi  Domimis  sedem 
David  patris  sui,  et  regnabit 
in  domo  Jacob  in  asternum, 
cujus  regni  non  erit  finis  :  * 
Et  portabat  levem  in  sinu  suo. 


518  ADVENT. 


December  20. 


FOURTH   ANTIPHON. 

O  Clavis  David  et  Seep-  O  Key  of  David,  and  Scep- 

trum  domus  Israel,  qui  ape-  tre  of  the  house  of  Israel ! 

ris,  et  nemo  claudit ;   clau-  who   openest,   and    no  man 

dis,  et  nemo  aperit ;    veni,  shutteth  :  who  shuttest,  and 

et   educ  vinctum    de    domo  no  man  openeth  ;  come  and 

carceris,   sedentem  in  tene-  lead  the  captive  from  prison, 

bris,  et  umbra  mortis.  sitting  in  darkness  and  in  the 

shadow  of  death. 


O  Jesus,  Son  of  David  !  heir  to  his  throne  and  his 
power  !  thou  art  now  passing  over,  in  thy  way  to 
Bethlehem,  the  land  that  once  was  the  kingdom  of 
thy  ancestor,  but  now  is  tributary  to  the  Gentiles. 
Scarce  an  inch  of  this  ground  which  has  not  witnessed 
the  miracles  of  the  justice  and  the  mercy  of  Jehovah, 
thy  Father,  to  the  people  of  that  old  Covenant,  which 
is  so  soon  to  end.  Before  long,  when  thou  hast  come 
from  beneath  the  virginal  cloud  which  now  hides 
thee,  thou  wilt  pass  along  this  same  road  doing  good,1 
healing  all  manner  of  sickness  and  every  infirmity? 
and  yet  having  not  where  to  lay  thy  head.3  Now, 
at  least,  thy  Mother's  womb  affords  thee  the  sweetest 
rest,  and  thou  receivest  from  her  the  profoundest 
adoration  and  the  tenderest  love.  But,  dear  Jesus, 
it  is  thine  own  blessed  will  that  thou  leave  this 
loved  abode.  Thou  hast,  O  Eternal  Light,  to  shine 
in  the  midst  of  this  world's  darkness,  this  prison 
where  the  Captive,  whom  thou  art  come  to  deliver, 

1  Acts,  x.  38.        a  St.  Matth.  iv.  23.     .  3  St.  Luke,  ix.  58. 


dec.  20.  519 

sits  in  the  shadow  of  death.  Open  his  prison-gates 
by  thy  all-powerful  Key.  And  who  is  this  Captive, 
but  the  human  race,  the  slave  of  error  and  vice  ? 
Who  is  this  Captive,  but  the  heart  of  man,  which  is 
thrall  to  the  very  passions  it  blushes  to  obey  ?  Oh  ! 
come  and  set  at  liberty  the  world  thou  hast  enriched 
by  thy  grace,  and  the  creatures  whom  thou  hast  made 
to  be  thine  own  Brethren. 


ANTIPHON  TO  THE  ANGEL  GABRIEL. 

O  Gabriel !  the  Messenger  O  Gabriel  !  nuntius  coelo- 

of  heaven,  who  earnest  unto  rum,   qui  januis   clausis  ad 

me  through  the  closed  doors,  me  intrasti,  et  Verbum  nun- 

and  didst  announce  the  Word  ciasti  :   Concipies  et  paries ; 

unto  me:  Thou  shalt  conceive  Emmanuel  vocabitur. 
and  bear  a  Son,  and  he  shall 
be  called  Emmanuel. 


520  ADVENT. 


December  21. 


The  Church  announces  to  us,  to-day,  in  her  Office 
of  Lauds,  these  solemn  words  : 

Nolitetimere:  quintaenim  Fear  not :  for  on  the  fifth 
die  veniet  ad  vos  Dominus  day,  our  Lord  will  come  unto 
noster.  you. 


SAINT  THOMAS,  APOSTLE. 

This  is  the  last  Feast  the  Church  keeps  before  the 
great  one  of  the  Nativity  of  her  Lord  and  Spouse. 
She  interrupts  the  Greater  Ferias  in  order  to  pay 
her  tribute  of  honour  to  Thomas,  the  Apostle  of 
Christ,  whose  glorious  martyrdom  has  consecrated 
this  twenty-first  day  of  December,  and  has  procured 
for  the  Christian  people  a  powerful  patron,  that  will 
introduce  them  to  the  divine  Babe  of  Bethlehem. 
To  none  of  the  Apostles  could  this  day  have  been  so 
fittingly  assigned  as  to  St.  Thomas.  It  was  St. 
Thomas  whom  we  needed ;  St.  Thomas,  whose  festal 
patronage  would  aid  us  to  believe  and  hope  in  that 
God  whom  we  see  not,  and  who  comes  to  us  in  silence 
and  humility  in  order  to  try  our  Faith.  St.  Thomas 
was  once  guilty  of  doubting,  when  he  ought  to  have 
believed ;  and  only  learnt  the  necessity  of  Faith  by 
the  sad  experience  of  incredulity :  he  comes  then 
most  appropriately  to  defend  us,  by  the  power  of  his 
example  and  prayers,  against  the  temptations  which 


DEC.   21.      ST.   THOMAS. 


521 


proud  human  reason  might  excite  within  us.  Let 
us  pray  to  him  "with  confidence.  In  that  heaven  of 
Light  and  Vision,  where  his  repentance  and  love  have 
placed  him,  he  will  intercede  for  us,  and  gain  for  us 
that  docility  of  mind  and  heart,  which  will  enable  us 
to  see  and  recognise  Him,  who  is  the  Expected  of 
Nations,  and  who,  though  the  King  of  the  world, 
will  give  no  other  signs  of  his  majesty,  than  the 
swaddling-clothes  and  tears  of  a  Babe.  But  let  us 
first  read  the  Acts  of  our  holy  Apostle.  The  Church 
has  deemed  it  prudent  to  give  us  them  in  an  exceed- 
ingly abridged  form,  which  contains  only  the  most 
reliable  facts,  gathered  from  authentic  sources ;  and 
thus,  she  excludes  all  those  details,  which  have  no 
historic  authority. 


Thomas  the  Apostle,  who 
was  also  named  Didymus, 
was  a  Galilean.  After  he  had 
received  the  Holy  Ghost,  he 
travelled  through  many  pro- 
vinces, preaching  the  Gospel 
of  Christ.  He  taught  the 
principles  of  Christian  faith 
and  practice  to  the  Parthians, 
Medes,  Persians,  Hircanians, 
and  Bactrians.  He  finally 
went  to  the  Indies,  and  in- 
structed the  inhabitants  of 
those  countries  in  the  Chris- 
tian religion.  Up  to  the  last, 
he  gained  for  himself  the  es- 
teem of  all  men  by  the  holi- 
ness of  his  life  and  teaching, 
and  by  the  wonderful  miracles 
he  wrought.  He  stirred  up, 
also,  in  their  hearts,  the  love 
of  Jesus  Christ.  The  King 
of  those  parts,  a  worshipper 
of  idols,  was,  on  the  contrary, 
only  the  more  irritated  by  all 
these  things.  He  condemned 
the  Saint  to  be  pierced  to 


Thomas  Apostolus,  qui  et 
Didymus,  Galilaeus,  post  ac- 
ceptum  Spiritum  Sanctum, 
in  multas  provincias  pro- 
fectus  est  ad  prsedicandum 
Christi  Evangelium.  Par- 
this,  Medis,  Persis,  Hircanis, 
et  Bactris  christianae  fidei 
et  vitae  prsecepta  tradidit. 
Postremo  ad  Indos  se  confe- 
rens,  eos  in  Christiana  re- 
ligione  erudivit.  Qui  ad 
extremum,  vitse  doctrinae- 
que  sanctitate,  et  miracu- 
lorum  magnitudine,  quum 
cseteris  omnibus  sui  admi- 
rationem,  et  Jesu  Christi 
amorem  commovisset,  illius 
gentis  regem,  idolorum  cul- 
torem,  magis  ad  iram  ac- 
cendit :  cujus  sententia  con- 
demnatus,  telisque  confos- 
sus,  Calaminae  Apostolatus 
honorem  martyrii  corona 
decoravit. 


522 


ADVENT. 


death  by  javelins :  which 
punishment  was  inflicted  at 
Calamina,  and  gave  Thomas 
the  highest  honour  of  his 
Apostolate,  the  crown  of  mar- 
tyrdom. 

THE   GKEAT  ANTIPHON   OF   ST.  THOMAS. 


O  Thoma  1  Didyme  !  qui 
Christum  meruisti  cernere  ; 
te  precibus  rogamus  altiso- 
nis,  succurre  nobis  miseris  ; 
ne  damnemur  cum  impiis, 
in  Adventu  Judicis. 


O  Thomas !  Didymus !  who 
didst  merit  to  see  Christ ;  we 
beseech  thee,  by  most  earnest 
supplication,  help  us  mise- 
rable sinners,  lest  we  be  con- 
demned with  the  ungodly,  at 
the  Coming  of  the  Judge. 


OEEMUS. 

Da  nobis,  queesumus,  Do- 
mine,  beati  Apostoli  tui 
Thomas  solemnitatibus  glo- 
riari  :  ut  ejus  semper  et  pa- 
trociniis  sublevemur,  et  Fi- 
dem  congrua  devotione  sec- 
temur.  Per  Dominum,  &c. 
Amen. 


LET  TJS  PEAY. 

Grant,  O  Lord,  we  beseech 
thee,  that  we  may  rejoice  on 
the  solemnity  of  thy  blessed 
Apostle,  Thomas  ;  to  the  end 
that  we  may  always  have  the 
assistance  of  his  prayers,  and 
zealously  profess  the  faith 
he  taught.  Through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 


The  following  Prayer  is  from  the  Matins  of  the 
Gothic,  or  Mozarabic,  Breviary. 


Domine  Jesu  Christe,  qui 
posuisti  in  capite  Martyris 
tui  Thomas  Apostoli  coro- 
nam  de  lapide  pretioso,  in 
fundamento  fundatum ;  ut 
non  confundatur,  quia  in 
te  credidit ;  coronetur,  quia 
pro  te  animam  posuit  :  sit 
ergo  intercessionibus  ejus 
in  nobis  famulis  tuis  Fides 
vera,  qua  te  etiam  coram 
persecutoribus  promptissima 
devotione  confiteamur :  qua- 


O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who 
hast  placed  on  the  head  of 
thy  Martyr,  Thomas  the 
Apostle,  a  crown  made  of 
that  precious  stone,  that  is 
founded  in  the  foundation ; 
that  so  he  might  not  be  con- 
founded, because  he  believed 
in  thee  ;  nor  be  uncrowned, 
because  he  laid  down  his  life 
for  thee ;  may  there  be,  by  his 
intercession,  in  us  thy  ser- 
vants, that  true  Faith,  where- 


DEC.    21.      ST.   THOMAS. 


523 


by  we  may  confess  thee  with    terras     interveniente     tanto 
most  ready  hearts  before  per-    Martyre,  coram  te  et  Angelis 
secutors  :   that  thus,  by  the    tuis    minime    confundamur. 
same  great  Martyr's  interces-    Amen, 
sion,  we  may  not  be  confound- 
ed before  thee  and  thy  Angels. 
Amen. 

The  Greek  Church  celebrates,  with  her  usual 
solemnity,  the  Feast  of  St.  Thomas  ;  but  she  keeps  it 
on  the  sixth  of  October.  We  extract  the  following 
stanzas  from  her  Hymns. 


HYMN   OF   ST.    THOMAS. 

{Taken  from  the  Mencea  of  the  Greeks.) 


When  thy  hand  touched 
Jesus'  Side,  thou  didst  find 
the  perfection  of  good  things ; 
for,  as  a  mystic  sponge,  thou 
didst  thence  imbibe  the  water 
of  life,  the  fount  of  all  that  is 
good,  and  didst  drink  in  ever- 
lasting life  ;  whereby  thou 
didst  cleanse  men's  minds 
from  ignorance,  giving  them 
to  drink  of  the  divine  dogmas 
of  the  knowledge  of  God. 

Thou  didst,  by  thine  own  in- 
credulity and  thy  after-faith, 
coufirm  such  as  were  tempted; 
for  thou  didst  proclaim  to  all 
men,  how  He,  that  is  thy  Lord 
and  thy  God,  became  incar- 
nate on  this  earth  for  us,  was 
nailed  to  the  Cross  and  suf- 
fered death,  and  had  his  Side 
opened  with  a  spear,  whence 
we  draw  life. 

Thou  didst  make  all  the 
Indies  shine  with  much  light, 
O  most  holy  Apostle,  thou 
eontemplator  of  the  Divinity ! 
For  after  thou  hadst  en- 
lightened these  people,  and 


Domini  palpato  latere,  bo- 
norum  assecutus  es  summi- 
tatem  ;  nam  velut  spongia 
hinc  hausisti  latices,  fontem 
bonorum,  seternamque  po- 
tasti  vitam,  mentibus  expel- 
lens  ignorantiam,  divinaque 
Dei  cognitionis  dogmata  sca- 
turire  faciens. 


Tua  incredulitate  et  tua 
fide  stabilisti  tentatos,  nun- 
ciare  incipiens  omni  creaturae 
Deum  ac  Dominum,  carne 
pro  nobis  in  terris  indutum, 
crucein  mortemque  subeun- 
tem,  clavis  perforatum,  cujus 
lancea  latus  apertum,  ex  quo 
vitam  haurimus. 


Indorum    omnem    terrain 

fulgere  fecisti,  sacratissime, 
ac  Deum  videns  Apostole  ! 
Quum  enim  illuminasses  fi- 
lms luminis  et  diei,  horum,  in 
Spiritu,  sapiens,  idolica  ever- 


524 


ADVENT. 


tisti  templa,  et  sublimasti 
eos  in  charitate  Dei,  ad  lau- 
dem  et  gloriam  Ecclesise, 
beate  intercessor  pro  anima- 
bus  nostris. 


Divina  videns,  Christi  Sa- 
pientise  spiritualis  demon- 
stratus  es  crater  mysticus, 
O  Thoma  Apostole,  in  quern, 
fidelium  animae  lsetantur,  et 
Spiritus  sagena  populos  eru- 
isti  ex  abysso  ignorantise  : 
unde  ex  Sion  sicut  fluvius 
devenisti  charitatis,  tua  di- 
vina scaturire  faciens  dog- 
mata in  omnem  creaturam. 
Christi  passiones  imitatus, 
latere  pro  ipso  perforatus, 
induisti  immortalitatem  :  il- 
ium deprecare  misereri  ani- 
mabus  nostris. 


made  them  to  be  children  of 
the  light  and  day,  thou,  by 
the  Spirit  of  God,  didst 
wisely  overthrow  the  temples 
of  their  idols,  and  didst  ele- 
vate the  people  to  the  love  of 
God,  making  them  an  honour 
and  a  glory  to  the  Church, 
O  thou  that  help  est  us  by  thy 
intercession  ! 

By  the  vision  thou  hadst 
of  divine  things,  thou  be- 
camest,  O  Apostle  Thomas  ! 
the  mystic  cup  of  the  Wis- 
dom of  Christ,  which  gives 
joy  to  the  souls  of  the  faith- 
ful. Thou  wast  the  spiritual 
net,  drawing  men  from  the 
sea  of  ignorance.  Hence  is 
it,  that  thou  earnest  from 
Sion  as  a  stream  of  charity, 
watering  the  world  with  the 
divine  dogmas.  Thou  didst 
imitate  the  passion  of  Jesus, 
thou  wast  pierced  in  thy  side, 
thou  hast  put  on  immorta- 
lity. Pray  to  God,  that  he 
have  mercy  on  our  souls. 


O  glorious  Apostle  Thomas !  who  didst  lead  to 
Christ  so  many  unbelieving  nations,  hear  now  the 
prayers  of  the  faithful,  who  beseech  thee  to  lead  them 
to  that  same  Jesus,  who,  in  five  days,  will  have  shown 
himself  to  his  Church.  That  we  may  merit  to  ap- 
pear in  his  divine  presence,  we  need,  before  all  other 
graces,  the  light  which  leads  to  him.  That  light  is 
Faith  ;  then,  pray  that  we  may  have  Faith.  Hereto- 
fore, our  Saviour  had  compassion  on  thy  weakness, 
and  deigned  to  remove  from  thee  the  doubt  of  his 
having  risen  from  the  grave;  pray  to  him  for  us,  that 
he  will  mercifully  come  to  our  assistance,  and  make 
himself  felt  by  our  heart.  We  ask  not,  O  holy 
Apostle !  to  see  him  with  the  eyes  of  our  body,  but 


DEC.   21.      ST.   THOMAS.  525 

with  those  of  oar  faith,  for  he  said  to  thee,  when 
he  showed  himself  to  thee :  Blessed  are  they  who 
have  not  seen,  and  have  believed  !  Of  this  happy 
number,  we  desire  to  be.  We  beseech  thee,  therefore, 
pray  that  we  may  obtain  the  Faith  of  the  heart  and 
will,  /that  so,  when  we  behold  the  divine  Infant 
wrapped  in  swaddling-clothes  and  laid  in  a  manger, 
we  may  cry  out :  My  Lord !  and  niy  God !  Pray, 
0  holy  Apostle,  for  the  nations  thou  didst  evangelise, 
but  which  have  fallen  back  again  into  the  shades  of 
death.  May  the  day  soon  come,  when  the  Sun  of 
Justice  will  once  more  shine  upon  them.  Bless  the 
efforts  of  those  apostolic  men,  who  have  devoted  their 
labours  and  their  very  lives  to  the  work  of  the 
Missions;  pray  that  the  daj^s  of  darkness  may  be 
shortened,  and  that  the  countries,  which  were  watered 
by  thy  blood,  may  at  length  see  that  kingdom  of 
God  established  amongst  them,  which  thou  didst 
preach  to  them,  and  for  which  we  also  are  in  waiting. 


526  ADVENT. 


THE  SAME  DAY. 


FIFTH  ANTIPHON. 

O  Oriens,  splendor  lucis  O  Orient !  splendour  of 
seternse,  et  sol  justitise  ;  veni  eternal  light,  and  Sun  of 
et  illumina  sedentes  in  tene-  Justice  !  come  and  enlighten 
bris,  et  umbra  mortis.  them  that  sit   in    darkness, 

and  in  the  shadow  of  death. 

O  Jesus,  divine  Sun  !  thou  art  coming  to  snatch 
us  from  eternal  night:  blessed  for  ever  be  thy  infinite 
goodness  !  But  thou  puttest  our  faith  to  the  test, 
before  showing  thyself  in  all  thy  brightness.  Thou 
hidest  thy  rays,  until  the  time  decreed  by  thy  heavenly 
Father  comes,  in  which  all  thy  beauty  will  break  upon 
the  world.  Thou  art  traversing  Judea ;  thou  art  near 
Jerusalem;  the  journey  of  Mary  and  Joseph  is  nigh 
its  term.  Crowds  of  men  pass  or  meet  thee  on  the 
road,  each  one  hurrying  to  his  native  town,  there  to 
be  enrolled,  as  the  Edict  commands.  Not  one  of  all 
these  suspects  that  thou,  O  divine  Orient !  art  so 
near  him.  They  see  thy  Mother  Mary,  and  they  see 
nothing  in  her  above  the  rest  of  women  ;  or  if  they 
are  impressed  by  the  majesty  and  incomparable 
modesty  of  this  august  Queen,  it  is  but  a  vague  feel- 
ing of  surprise  at  there  being  such  dignity  in  one  so 
poor  as  she  is  ;  and  they  soon  forget  her  again.  If 
the  Mother  is  thus  an  object  of  indifference  to  them, 
it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  they  will  give  even  so 
much  as  a  thought  to  her  Child,  that  is  not  yet  born. 
And  yet  this  Child  is  thyself,  0  Sun  of  Justice  !  Oh  ! 
increase  our  Faith,  but  increase,  too,  our  Love.  If 
these  men  loved  thee,  O  Redeemer  of  mankind,  thou 


DEC.    21. 


527 


wouldst  give  them  tlie  grace  to  feel  thy  presence ; 
their  eyes,  indeed,  would  not  yet  see  thee,  but  their 
hearts,  at  least,  would  burn  within  them,  they  would 
long  for  thy  Coming,  and  would  hasten  it  by  their 
prayers  and  sighs.  Dearest  Jesus  !  who  thus  tra- 
versest  the  world  thou  hast  created,  and  who  forcest 
not  the  homage  of  thy  creatures,  we  wish  to  keep 
near  thee  during  the  rest  of  this  thy  journey:  we 
kiss  the  footsteps  of  Her  that  carries  thee  in  her 
womb  ;  we  will  not  leave  thee,  until  we  arrive  to- 
gether with  thee  at  Bethlehem,  that  House  of  Bread, 
where,  at  last,  our  eyes  will  see  thee,  O  splendour  of 
eternal  light,  our  Lord  and  our  God  ! 


PRAYER  FOR  THE  TIME  OF  ADVENT. 

{The  'Mozarabic  Breviary,  Monday  oftlie  Fifth  Week, 
Oratio.) 


0  God,  our  Father  !  what 
horrid  crime  is  this  I  see 
committed  in  thy  presence 
by  the  reprobate  Jews !  They 
spurn  thy  Son,  that  was  fore- 
told in  the  Law,  and  remain 
in  the  gulf  of  their  incredu- 
lity :  whereas,  they,  to  whom 
he  was  not  announced,  have 
seen  him ;  and  they  who 
heard  not,  contemplated  him, 
in  their  spirit.  Remove, 
therefore,  we  beseech  thee, 
from  us  all  that  resists  thee 
in  our  conduct,  that  so,  with 
a  believing  heart,  we  may  in 
such  manner  bring  forth  the 
branches  of  thy  gifts  be- 
stowed on  us,  as  that  the 
root  of  humility  may  never 
dry  up  within  us.     Amen. 


Immane  satis  facinus  vi- 
deo coram  tuis,  Deus  Pater, 
oculis  a  reprobis  perpetra- 
tum  :  qui,  dum  Filium  tuum, 
prseclicatum  in  Lege,  contem- 
nunt,  _  in  incredulitatis  suae 
voragine  remanserunt ;  dum 
hi  quibus  non  erat  de  eo  nun- 
tiatum,  viderunt  eum,  et  qui 
non  audierunt,  intelligentia 
contemplati  sunt.  Amove 
ergo,  _  quaesumus,  quidquid 
resistit  tibi  in  opere,  ut  cre- 
dulo  pectore  sic  in  nobis  vir- 
gulta  donorum  prsepolleant, 
ut  radix  humilitatis  nunquam 
arescat.     Amen. 


28  ADVENT. 


December  22. 


SIXTH  ANTIPHON. 

O  Rex  gentium,  et  deside-  O  King  of  nations,  and 
ratus  earum,  Lapisque  an-  their  Desired  One,  and  the 
gularis,  qui  facis  utraque  Corner- Stone  that  makest 
unum  ;  veni,  et  salva  homi-  both  one  ;  come  and  save 
nem  quern  de  limo  formasti.     man  whom    thou    formedst 

out  of  slime. 

0  King  of  Nations  !  thou  art  approaching  still 
nigher  to  Bethlehem,  where  thou  art  to  be  born. 
The  journey  is  almost  over,  and  thy  august  Mother, 
consoled  and  strengthened  by  the  dear  weight  she 
bears,  holds  an  unceasing  converse  with  thee  on  the 
way.  She  adores  thy  divine  Majesty ;  she  gives 
thanks  to  thy  mercy ;  she  rejoices  that  she  has  been 
chosen  for  the  sublime  ministry  of  being  Mother 
to  God.  She  longs  for  that  happy  moment  when 
her  eyes  shall  look  upon  thee,  and  yet  she  fears  it. 
For,  how  will  she  be  able  to  render  thee  those  ser- 
vices which  are  due  to  thy  infinite  greatness,  she 
that  thinks  herself  the  last  of  creatures  ?  How  will 
she  dare  to  raise  thee  up  in  her  arms,  and  press  thee 
to  her  heart,  and  feed  thee  at  her  breasts  ?  When  she 
reflects  that  the  hour  is  now  near  at  hand,  in  which, 
being  born  of  her,  thou  wilt  require  all  her  care  and 
tenderness,  her  heart  sinks  within  her;  for,  what 
human  heart  could  bear  the  intense  vehemence  of 
these  two  affections, — the  love  of  such  a  Mother  for 
her  Babe,  and  the  love  of  such  a  Creature  for  her 
God  ?     But  thou  supportest  her,  0  thou  the  Desired 


dec.  22.  529 

of  Nations  !  for  thou,  too,  longest  for  that  happy 
Birth,  which  is  to  give  the  earth  its  Saviour,  and  to 
men  that  Corner- Stone,  which  will  unite  them  all 
into  one  family.  Dearest  King  !  be  thou  blessed 
for  all  these  wonders  of  thy  power  and  goodness  ! 
Come  speedily,  we  beseech  thee,  come  and  save  us, 
for  we  are  dear  to  thee,  as  creatures  that  have  been 
formed  by  thy  divine  hands.  Yea,  Come,  for  thy 
creation  has  grown  degenerate  ;  it  is  lost ;  death  has 
taken  possession  of  it :  take  it  thou  again  into  thy 
almighty  hands,  and  give  it  a  new  creation ;  save  it; 
for  thou  hast  not  ceased  to  take  pleasure  in  and  love 
thine  own  work. 


THE   GREAT  ANTIPHON   IN   HONOUR  OF   CHRIST. 

O  King  of  Peace  !  that  O  Eex  Pacifice,  tu  ante 
wast  born  before  all  ages,  ssecula  nate,  per  auream 
come  by  the  golden  gate  ;  egredere  portam,  redemptos 
visit  them  whom  thou  hast  tuos  visita,  et  eos  illuc  re- 
redeemed,  and  lead  them  voca,  unde  ruerunt  per  cut- 
back to  the  place  whence  pam. 
they  fell  by  sin. 


2  M 


530  ADVENT. 


December  23. 


The  Church  sings  this  Antiphon  in  to-clay's  Lauds  : 

Ant.  Ecce  completa  sunt  Ant.  Lo  !  all  things  are 
omnia  quae  dicta  sunt  per  accomplished  that  were  said 
Angelum,  de  Virgine  Maria,      by  the  Angel,  of  the  Virgin 

Mary. 


SEVENTH   ANTIPHON. 

0  Emmanuel,  Rex  et  Le-  O    Emmanuel,   our    King 

gifer  noster,  exspectatio  gen-  and  Lawgiver,  the  Expecta- 

tium,    et    salvator    earum  ;  tion  and  Saviour  of  the  na- 

veni  ad  salvandum  nos,  Do-  tions  !    come    and   save  us. 

mine  Deus  noster.  0  Lord  our  God  ! 

0  Emmanuel !  King  of  Peace  !  thou  enterest  to- 
day the  city  of  thy  predilection,  the  city  in  which 
thou  hast  placed  thy  Temple, — Jerusalem.  A  few 
years  hence,  and  the  same  city  will  give  thee  thy 
Cross  and  thy  Sepulchre  :  nay,  the  day  will  come,  on 
which  thou  wilt  set  up  thy  Judgment-seat  within 
sight  of  her  walls.  But,  to-day,  thou  enterest  the 
city  of  David  and  Solomon  unnoticed  and  unknown. 
It  lies  on  thy  road  to  Bethlehem.  Thy  Blessed 
Mother  and  Joseph,  her  Spouse,  would  not  lose  the 
opportunity  of  visiting  the  Temple,  there  to  offer  to 
the  Lord  their  prayers  and  adoration.  They  enter  ; 
and  then,  for  the  first  time,  is  accomplished  the  pro- 
phecy of  Aggeus,  that  great  shall  be  the  glory  of  this 
last  House  more  than  of  the  first ; 1  for  this  second 

1  Ass.  ii.  10. 


dec.  23.  531 

Temple  has  now  standing  within  it  an  Ark  of  the 
Covenant  more  precious  than  was  that  which  Moses 
built ;  and  within  this  Ark,  which  is  Mary,  there  is 
contained  the  God,  whose  presence  makes  her  the 
holiest  of  sanctuaries.  The  Laivgiver  himself  is  in 
this  blessed  Ark,  and  not  merely,  as  in  that  of  old, 
the  tablet  of  stone  on  which  the  Law  was  graven. 
The  visit  paid,  our  living  Ark  descends  the  steps  of 
the  Temple,  and  sets  out  once  more  for  Bethlehem, 
where  other  prophecies  are  to  be  fulfilled.  We  adore 
tbee,  0  Emmanuel !  in  this  thy  journey,  and  we 
reverence  the  fidelity  wherewith  thou  fulfillest  all 
that  the  prophets  have  written  of  thee,  for  thou 
wouldst  give  to  thy  people  the  certainty  of  thy  being 
the  Messias,  by  showing  them,  that  all  the  marks, 
whereby  he  was  to  be  known,  are  to  be  found  in  thee. 
And  now,  the  hour  is  near ;  all  is  ready  for  thy  Birth  ; 
come,  then,  and  save  us ;  come,  that  thou  mayest  not 
only  be  called  our  Emmanuel,  but  our  Jesus,  that  is, 
He  that  saves  us. 


THE   GREAT  ANTIPHO^  TO   JERUSALEM. 

0  Jerusalem  !  city  of  the  O     Hierusalern  i     civitas 

great  God  !  lift  up  thine  eyes  Dei  summi,  leva,  in  circuitu 

round  about,   and    see    thy  oculos  tuos ;  et  vide  Bomi- 

Lord,   for  he  is   coming   to  num  tuum,  quia  jam  veniefc 

loose  thee  from  thy  chains.  solvere  te  a  vinculis. 


532  ADVENT. 


Decembek  24. 
CHRISTMAS    EYE. 


"  At  length,"  says  St.  Peter  Damian,  in  his  Sermon 
for  this  holy  Eve,  "  at  length  we  have  got  from  the 
"  stormy  sea  into  the  tranquil  port;  hitherto  it  was  the 
"  promise,  now  it  is  the  prize ;  hitherto  labour,  now 
"  rest ;  hitherto  despair,  now  hope  ;  hitherto  the  way, 
"now  our  home.  The  heralds  of  the  divine  promise 
"  came  to  us ;  but  they  gave  us  nothing  but  rich  pro- 
"mises.  Hence,  our  Psalmist  himself  grew  wearied, 
"and  slept,  and,  with  a  seeming  reproachful  tone, 
"  thus  sings  his  lamentation  to  God  :  But  thou  hast 
"  rejected  and  despised  us ;  thou  hast  deferred  the 
"  coming  of  thy  Christ.1  At  another  time  he  assumes 
"  a  tone  of  demand,  and  thus  prays :  0  thou  that 
"  sittest  upon  the  Cherubim,  shoiv  thyself ! 2  Seated 
"  on  thy  high  throne,  with  myriads  of  adoring  Angels 
"around  thee,  look  down  upon  the  children  of  men, 
"who  are  victims  of  that  sin,  which  was  committed 
"indeed  by  Adam,  but  permitted  by  thy  justice. 
11  Remember  what  my  substance  is ;3  thou  didst 
"  make  it  to  the  likeness  of  thine  own  ;  for  though 
"every  living  man  is  vanity,  yet  inasmuch  as  he  is 
"  made  to  thy  Image,  he  is  not  a  passing  vanity} 
"  Bend  thy  heavens  and  come  down,  and  turn  the 
"  eyes  of  thy  mercy  upon  us  thy  miserable  suppliants, 
"  and  forget  us  not  unto  the  end  ! 

"Isaias,  also,  in  the  vehemence  of  his  desire,  thus 
"  spoke  :  For  Sion's  sake  I  will  not  hold  my  peace, 
"  and  for  the  sake  of  Jerusalem  I  tvill  not  rest,  till 

1  Ps.  lxxxviii.     2  Ibid,  lxxix.     3  Ibid,  lxxxviii.     4  Ibid,  xxxviii. 


DEC.    24      CHRISTMAS   EVE.  533 

"  her  Just  One  come  forth  as  brightness.  Oh  !  that 
"  thou  wouldst  rend  the  heavens,  and  wouldst  come 
"  doivn  !  So,  too,  all  the  Prophets,  tired  of  the  long 
"  delay  of  the  Coming,  have  prayed  to  thee,  now  with 
"supplication,  now  with  lamentation,  and  now  with 
"cries  of  impatience.  We  have  listened  to  these 
"  their  prayers ;  we  have  made  use  of  them  as  our 
"  own,  and  now,  nothing  can  give  us  joy  or  gladness, 
"  till  our  Saviour  come  to  us,  and,  kissing  us  with  the 
"  kiss  of  his  lips,  say  to  us,  /  have  heard  and  granted 
"  your  prayers. 

"  But,  what  is  this  that  has  been  said  to  us  : 
"  Sanctify  yourselves,  0  ye  children  of  Israel,  and  be 
"ready;  for  on  the  morrow,  the  Lord  will  come 
"  down  ?  We  are,  then,  but  one  half  day  and  night 
™  from  the  grand  visit,  the  admirable  Birth  of  the 
"  Infant-God !  Hurry  on  your  course,  ye  fleeting 
"  hours,  that  we  may  the  sooner  see  the  Son  of  God  in 
"his  crib,  and  pay  our  homage  to  this  world-saving 
"Birth.  You,  Brethren,  are  the  Children  of  Israel, 
"  that  are  sanctified,  and  cleansed  from  every  denle- 
"rnent  of  soul  and  body,  ready,  by  your  earnest 
"devotion,  for  to-morrow's  mysteries.  Sueh,  indeed, 
"you  are,  if  I  may  judge  from  the  manner  in  which 
"  you  have  spent  these  sacred  days  of  preparation  for 
"  the  Coming  of  your  Saviour. 

"  But  if,  notwithstanding  all  your  care,  some  drops 
"  of  the  stream  of  this  life's  frailties  are  still  on  your 
"  hearts,  wipe  them  away  and  cover  them  with  the 
"  snow-white  robe  of  Confession.  This  I  can  promise 
"you  from  the  mercy  of  the  divine  Infant  :  he  that 
"  shall  confess  his  sins  and  be  sorry  for  them,  shall 
"  have  born  within  him  the  Light  of  the  World  ;  the 
"  darkness  that  deceived  him,  shall  be  dispelled  ;  and 
"  he  shall  enjoy  the  brightness  of  the  true  Light. 
"  For  how  can  mercy  be  denied  to  the  miserable  this 
"  night,  in  which  the  merciful  and  compassionate 
"  Lord  is  so  mercifully  born  ?     Therefore,  drive  away 


534  ADVENT. 

"  from  you  all  haughty  looks,  and  idle  words,  and 
"  unjust  works  ;  let  your  loins  be  girt,  and  your  feet 
"  walk  in  the  right  paths  ;  and  then  come,  and  accuse 
"  the  Lord,  if  this  night  he  rend  not  the  heavens,  and 
"  come  down  to  you,  and  throw  all  your  sins  into  the 
"  depths  of  the  sea." 

This  holy  Eve  is,  indeed,  a  day  of  grace  and  hope, 
and  we  ought  to  spend  it  in  spiritual  joy.  The 
Church,  contrary  to  her  general  practice,  prescribes, 
that  if  Christmas  Eve  fall  on  a  Sunday,  the  fasting 
alone  should  be  anticipated  on  the  Saturday;  but  that 
the  Office  and  Mass  of  the  Vigil  should  take  prece- 
dence of  the  Office  and  Mass  of  the  fourth  Sunday  of 
Advent.  How  solemn,  then, in  the  eyes  of  the  Church, 
are  these  few  hours  which  separate  us  from  the  great 
Feast  1  On  all  other  Feasts,  no  matter  how  great 
they  may  be,  the  solemnity  begins  with  first  Vespers, 
and  until  then  the  Church  restrains  her  joy,  and  cele- 
brates the  Divine  Office  and  Sacrifice  according  to 
the  Lenten  rite.  Christmas,  on  the  contrary,  seems 
to  begin  with  the  Vigil ;  and  one  would  suppose  that 
this  morning's  Lauds  were  the  opening  of  the  Feast ; 
for  the  solemn  intonation  of  this  portion  of  the  Office 
is  that  of  a  Double,  and  the  Antiphons  are  sung 
before  and  after  each  Psalm  or  Canticle.  The  purple 
Vestments  are  used  at  the  Mass,  but  all  the  genu- 
flexions peculiar  to  the  Advent  Ferias  are  omitted  ; 
and  only  one  Collect  is  said,  instead  of  three,  which 
always  denote  that  the  Mass  is  not  that  of  a  solemnity. 

Let  us  enter  into  the  spirit  of  the  Church,  and  pre- 
pare ourselves,  in  all  the  joy  of  our  hearts,  to  meet 
the  Saviour  who  is  coming  to  us.  Let  us  observe 
with  strictness  the  fast  which  is  prescribed  ;  it  will 
enable  our  bodies  to  aid  the  promptness  of  our  spirit. 
Let  us  delight  in  the  thought,  that  before  we  again 
lay  down  to  rest,  we  shall  have  seen  Him  born,  in  the 
solemn  mid-night,  who  comes  to  give  light  to  every 
creature.     For,  surely,  it  is  the  duty  of  every  faithful 


DEC.    24.     -CHRISTMAS   EYE.  53^ 

child  of  the  Catholic  Church  to  celebrate,  with  her, 
this  happy  Night,  when,  in  spite  of  all  the  coldness 
of  devotion,  the  whole  universe  keeps  up  its  watch 
for  the  arrival  of  its  Saviour.  It  is  one  of  the  last 
vestiges  of  the  piety  of  ancient  days,  and  God  forbid 
it  should  ever  be  effaced  \ 

Let  us,  in  a  spirit  of  prayer,  look  at  the  principal 
portions  of  the  Office  of  this  beautiful  Vigil.  First, 
then,  the  Church  makes  a  mysterious  announcement 
to  her  children.  It  serves,  as  the  Invitatory  of 
Matins,  and  as  the  Introit  and  Gradual  of  the  Mass. 
They  are  the  words  which  Moses  addressed  to  the 
people  of  God,  when  he  told  them  of  the  heavenly 
Manna,  which  they  would  receive  on  the  morrow. 
We,  too,  are  expecting  our  Manna,  our  Jesus,  the 
Bread  of  life,  who  is  to  be  born  in  Bethlehem,  which 
is  the  House  of  Bread. 

INVITATORY. 

This  day  ye  shall  know  that  Hodie  scietis  quia  veniet 

the  Lord  will  come,  and  in  Dominus,  et  mane  videbitis 

the  morning  ye  shall  see  his  gloriam  ejus, 
glory. 

The  Responsories  are  full  of  sublimity  and  sweet- 
ness. Nothing  can  be  more  affecting  than  their 
lyric  melody,  sung  to  us  by  our  Mother  the  Church, 
on  the  very  night  which  precedes  the  night  of  Jesus' 
Birth. 

I£.  Sanctify  yourselves  this  :3&  Sanctificamini      hodie 

day,  and  be  ye  ready  :  for  on  et  estote  parati  :    quia   die 

the  morrow  ye   shall  see  *  crastina  videbitis  *  Majesta- 

The  Majesty  of  God  amongst  tern  Dei  in  vobis.    ft.  Hodie 

you.     "ft.  This  day  ye  shall  scietis  quia  veniet  Dominus, 

know    that    the    Lord    will  et  mane  videbitis  *  Majesta- 

come,  and  in  the  morning  ye  tern  Dei  in  vobis. 
shall  see   *  The  Majesty  of 
God  amongst  you. 

1$.  Be  ye  constant ;  ye  shall  1$.  Constantes  estote  ;  vi- 

see  the  help  of  the  Lord  upon  debitis     auxilium     Domini 


536 


ADVENT. 


super  vos  :  Judaea  et  Jeru- 
salem, nolite  timere  :  *  Cras 
egrediemini,  et  Dominus  erit 
vobiscum  :  *  Sanctificamini, 
filii  Israel,  et  estote  parati.  * 
Cras  egrediemini,  et  Dominus 
erit  vobiscum. 

B-  Sanctificamini,  filii  Is- 
rael, dicit  Dominus:  die  enim 
crastina  descendet  Dominus  : 
*  Et  auferet  a  vobis  omnem 
languorem.  $".  Crastina  die 
delebitur  iniquitas  terras,  et 
regnabit  super  nos  Salvator 
mundi.  *  Et  auferet  a  vobis 
omnem  languorem. 


you  :  fear  not,  Judea  and 
Jerusalem  :  *  To-morrow  ye 
shall  go  forth,  and  the  Lord 
shall  be  with  you :  *  Sanctify 
yourselves,  ye  children  of  Is- 
rael, and  be  ye  ready.  *  To- 
morrow ye  shall  go  forth,  and 
the  Lord  shall  be  with  you. 

3$.  Sanctify  yourselves,  ye 
children  of  Israel,  saith  the 
Lord  :  for  on  the  morrow, 
the  Lord  shall  come  down  :  * 
And  shall  take  from  you  all 
that  is  languid,  "ft.  To-mor- 
row the  iniquity  of  the  earth 
shall  be  cancelled,  and  over 
us  shall  reign  the  Saviour  of 
the  world.  *  And  he  shall 
take  from  you  all  that  is 
languid. 


At  the  Office  of  Prime,  in  Cathedral  Chapters  and 
Monasteries,  the  announcement  of  to-morrow's  Feast 
is  made  with  unusual  solemnity.  The  Lector,  who 
frequently  is  one  of  the  dignitaries  of  the  Choir,  sings, 
to  a  magnificent  chant,  the  following  Lesson  from  the 
Martyrology.  All  the  assistants  remain  standing 
during  it,  until  the  Lector  comes  to  the  word  Bethle- 
hem, at  which  all  genuflect,  and  continue  in  that 
posture  until  all  the  glad  Tidings  are  told. 


OCTAVO   KALENDAS  JA- 
NUARII. 

Anno  a  creatione  rnundi, 
quando  in  principio  Deus 
creavit  coelum  et  terrain, 
quinquies  millesimo  cente- 
simo  nonagesimo  nono  :  A 
diluvio  vero,  anno  bis  mille- 
simo nongentesimo  quinqua- 
gesimo  septimo :  A  nativitate 
Abrahse,  anno  bis  millesimo 
quintodecimo  :  A  Moyse  et 
egretsu     populi     Israel     de 


THE    EIGHTH    OP    THE    CA- 
LENDS   OF    JANUARY. 

The  year  from  the  creation 
of  the  world,  when  in  the  be- 
ginning God  created  heaven 
and  earth,  five  thousand  one 
hundred  and  ninety-nine : 
from  the  deluge,  the  year  two 
thousand  nine  hundred  and 
fifty-seven :  from  the  birth  of 
Abraham,  the  year  two  thou- 
sand and  fifteen :  from  Moses 
and  the   going   out   of   the 


DEC.  24.      CHRISTMAS   EVE. 


537 


people  of  Israel  from  Egypt, 
the  year  one  thousand  five 
hundred  and  ten  :  from 
David's  being  anointed  King, 
the  year  one  thousand  and 
thirty-two :  in  the  sixty-fifth 
week  according  to  the  pro- 
phecy of  Daniel  :  in  the  one 
hundred  and  ninety-fourth 
Olympiad  :  from  the  build- 
ing of  the  city  of  Rome,  the 
year  seven  hundred  and  fifty- 
two  :  in  the  forty- second  year 
of  the  reign  of  Octavian 
Augustus  :  the  whole  world 
being  in  peace  :  in  the  sixth 
age  of  the  world :  Jesus 
Christ,  the  eternal  God,  and 
Son  of  the  eternal  Father, 
wishing  to  consecrate  this 
world  by  his  most  merciful 
coming,  being  conceived  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  nine 
months  since  his  conception 
having  passed,  in  Bethlehem 
of  Juda,  is  born  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,  being  made  man :  The 
Nativity  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  according 
to  the  flesh! 


iEgypto,  anno  millesimo 
quingentesimo  decimo  :  Ab 
unctione  David  in  regem, 
anno  millesimo  trigesimo 
secundo :  Hebdomada  sex- 
agesima  quinta  j  uxta  Danielis 
prophetiam :  Olympiade  cen- 
tesima  nonagesima  quarta : 
Ab  urbe  Roma  condita,  aim ) 
septingentesimo  quinquages- 
imo  secundo  :  Anno  Imperii 
Octaviani  Augusti  quadra- 
gesimo  secundo  :  toto  orbe  in 
pace  composito,  sexta  mundi 
astate,  Jesus  Christus  asternus 
Deus,  seternique  PatrisFilius, 
mundum  volens  adventu  suo 
piissimo  consecrare,  de  Spiri- 
tu  Sancto  conceptus,  novem- 
que  postconceptionem  decur- 
sis  mensibus,  in  Bethlehem 
Jadae  nascitnr  ex  Maria  Vir- 
gine  f actus  Homo :  Nativi- 
tas  Domini  nostri  Jesu 
Christi     secundum    car- 

NEM  ] 


Thus  have  passed  before  us,  in  succession,  all  the 
generations  of  the  world.1  Each  of  them  is  asked  if 
it  have  seen  Him  whom  we  are  expecting,  and  each 
is  silent ;  until  the  name  of  Mary  is  pronounced,  and 
then,  is  proclaimed  the  Nativity  of  Jesus  Christ,  the 


1  On  this  one  day  alone,  and  on  this  single  occasion,  does  the 
Church  adopt  the  Septuagint  Chronology,  according  to  which  the 
Birth  of  our  Saviour  took  place  five  thousand  years  after  the 
creation  ;  whereas  the  Vulgate  version,  and  the  Hebrew  text, 
place  only  four  thousand  between  the  two  events.  This  is  not  a 
fitting  place  to  explain  this  discrepancy  of  chronology ;  we  merely 
allude  to  it  as  showing  the  liberty  which  the  Church  allows  us  on 
this  question. 


538  ADVENT. 

Son  of  God,  made  Man.  St.  Bernard  speaking  of  this 
announcement,  says  :  "  The  voice  of  J037  has  gone 
"  forth  in  our  land,  the  voice  of  rejoicing  and  of  sal- 
"  vation  is  in  the  tabernacles  of  the  just.  There  has 
"  been  heard  a  good  word,  a  word  that  gives  consola- 
"  tion,  a  word  that  is  full  of  gladsomeness,  a  word 
"  worthy  of  all  acceptance.  Resound  with  praise,  ye 
"  mountains,  and  all  ye  trees  of  the  forests  clap  your 
"  hands  before  the  face  of  the  Lord,  for  he  is  coming. 
u  Hearken,  0  ye  heavens,  and  give  ear,  O  earth  !  be 
"  astounded  and  give  praise,  O  all  ye  creatures  !  but 
"  thou,  O  man,  more  than  all  they !  Jesus  Christ, 
"  the  Son  of  God,  is  born  in  Bethlehem  of  Juda  ! 
"  Who  is  there,  that  is  so  hard  of  heart,  that  this 
"  word  does  not  touch  him  ?  Could  anything  be  told 
"  us  sweeter  than  this  ?  Could  any  news  delight  us 
"  like  this  ?  Was  such  a  thing  ever  heard,  or  any- 
"  thing  like  it  ever  told  to  the  world  ?  Jesus  Christ, 
"  the  Son  of  God,  is  born  in  Bethlehem  of  Juda! 
"  0  brief  word  of  the  Word  abridged  I1  and  yet  how 
"  full  of  heavenly  beauty  !  The  heart,  charmed  with 
"  the  honeyed  sweetness  of  the  expression,  would  fain 
"  diffuse  it  and  spread  it  out  into  more  words ;  but  no, 
"  it  must  be  given  just  as  it  is,  or  you  spoil  it :  Jesus 
"  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  is  born  in  Bethlehem 
"  of  Juda  !"2 


MASS. 


INTROIT. 


Hodie  scietis,  quia  veniet  This  day  you  shall  know 

Dorainus,  et  salvabit  nos  :  et  that  the  Lord  will  come,  and 

mane  videbitis  gloriam  ejus,  save  us  :  and  in  the  morning 

Ps.  Domini  est  terra  et  pleni-  you  shall  see  his  glory.    Ps. 

tudo  ejus  ;  orbis  terrarum,  et  The  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and 

1  Rom.  ix.  28.  2  Second  Sermon  for  Christmas  Eve. 


DEC.    24.      CHRISTMAS   EYE.  539 

the  fulness  thereof;  the  world,    universi  qui  habitant  in  eo. 

and  all  that  dwell  therein,  ft.    ft.  Gloria  Patri. 

Glory. 

In  the  Collect,  the  Church  makes  a  last  allusion  to 
the  Coming  of  Jesus  as  our  Judge,  at  the  end  of  the 
world.  But  after  this,  she  can  only  look  upon  her 
Jesas  as  the  Prince  of  Peace,  and  as  the  Spouse  that 
comes  to  her.  Her  children  must  imitate  her  con- 
fidence. 

COLLECT. 

O  God,  who  makest  us  re-  Deus,  qui  nos  redemptionis 

joice  in  the  yearly  expectation  nostrse  annua   exspectatione 

of  the  feast  of  our  Redemp-  lsetificas :  prsesta,  ut  Unigeni- 

tion  :  grant  that  we  who  joy-  turn    tuum,    quern    redenrp- 

fully  receive  thy    only   be-  torem  lseti  suscipimus,  veni- 

gotten  Son  as  a  Redeemer,  entemquoqueJudicemsecuri 

may  behold,  without  fear,  the  videamus,     Dominum  _  nos- 

same     Lord     Jesus     Christ  trum  Jesum  Christum  Filium 

coming  as  our  Judge.    Who  tuum.     Qui  tecum, 
liveth,  dec. 

In  the  Epistle,  the  Apostle  St.  Paul,  addressing 
himself  to  the  Romans,  makes  known  to  them  the 
dignity  and  holiness  of  the  Gospel,  that  is,  of  those 
Good  Tidings,  which  the  Angels  are  to  bring  to  us 
this  very  night.  Now,  the  subject  of  this  Gospel  is 
Jesus,  the  Son  that  is  born  unto  God,  of  the  family 
of  David,  according  to  the  flesh.  This  Jesus  comes 
that  he  may  be,  to  his  Church,  the  source  of  grace 
and  apostleship.  It  is  by  these  two  gifts  that  we  are 
still  associated,  after  so  many  ages,  to  the  joys  of  the 
great  Mystery  of  his  Birth  in  Bethlehem. 

EPISTLE. 

Lesson  of  the  Epistle  of  Saint    Lectio  Epistolse  beati  Pauli 
Paul  the  Apostle  to  the  Apostoli  ad  Romanos. 

Romans. 

Gh.  I.  Cap.  I. 

Paul,  the  Servant  of  Jesus    Paulus,  servus  Jesu  Christi, 


540 


ADVENT. 


vocatus  Apostolus,  segregatus 
in  Evangelium  Dei,  quod  ante 
promiserat  per  Prophetas 
suos  in  scripturis  Sanctis,  de 
Filio  suo,  qui  factus  est  ei  ex 
semine  David  secundum  car- 
nem,  qui  praedestinatus  est 
Filius  Dei  in  virtute,  secun- 
dum Spiritum  sanctifica- 
tionis,  ex  resurrectione  mor- 
tuorum,  Jesu  Christi  Domini 
nostri :  per  quern  accepimus 
Gratiam,  et  Apostolatum,  ad 
obediendum  fidei  in  omnibus 
gentibus  pro  nomine  ejus,  in 
quibus  estis  et  vos  vocati 
Jesu  Christi  Domini  nostri. 


Christ,calledtobe  an  Apostle, 
separated  unto  the  Gospel  of 
God,  which  he  had  promised 
before  by  his  Prophets  in  the 
holy  scriptures,  concerning 
his  Son,  who  was  made  to 
him  of  the  seed  of  David  ac- 
cording to  the  flesh,  who  was 
predestinated  the  Son  of  God 
in  power,  according  to  the 
spirit  of  sanctifieation,  by  the 
resurrection  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  from  the  dead  :  by 
whom  we  have  received  Grace 
and  Apostleship  for  obedience 
to  the  faith  in  all  nations  for 
his  name,  among  whom  are 
you  also  the  called  of  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord. 


GRADUAL. 


Hodie  scietis  quia  veniet 
Dominus,  et  salvabit  nos  :  et 
mane  videbitis  gloriam  ejus. 
ft.  Qui  regis  Israel  intende  : 
qui  deducis  velut  ovem  Jo- 
seph :  qui  sedes  super  Cheru- 
bim, appare  coram  Ephraim, 
Benjamin  et  Manasse. 


This  day  you  shall  know 
that  the  Lord  will  come,  and 
save  us  :  and  in  the  morning 
you  shall  see  his  glory,  ft. 
Thou  who  rulest  Israel, 
hearken  :  thou  who  leadest 
Joseph  like  a  sheep  :  thou 
who  sittest  on  the  Cherubim, 
show  thyself  to  Ephraim, 
Benjamin,  and  Manasses. 


If  the  Vigil  of  Christmas  fall  on  a  Sunday,  the 
following  is  added : 


Alleluia,  alleluia. 

ft.  Crastina  die  delebitur 
iniquitas  terrae,  et  regnabit 
super  nos  Salvator  mundi. 
Alleluia. 


Alleluia,  alleluia. 

ft.  To-morrow  the  sins  of 
the  earth  shall  be  cancelled, 
and  the  Saviour  of  the  world 
shall  reign  over  us.    Alleluia. 


The  Gospel  of  to-day's  Mass  is  the  passage  which 
relates  the  trouble  of  St.  Joseph  and  the  visit  he  re- 

This  incident,  which  forms 


ceived  from  the  Angel. 


DEC.    24.      CHRISTMAS   EVE. 


541 


one  of  the  preludes  to  the  Birth  of  our  Saviour,  could 
not  but  enter  into  the  Liturgy  for  Advent ;  and  so 
far,  there  was  no  suitable  occasion  for  its  insertion. 
The  Yigil  of  Christmas  was  the  right  day  for  this 
Gospel,  for  another  reason  :  the  Angel,  in  speaking 
to  St.  Joseph,  tells  him,  that  the  name  to  be  given  to 
the  Child  of  Mary  is  Jesus,  which  signifies  that  he 
will  save  his  people  from  their  sins. 

Sequel  of    the  holy  Gospel    Sequentia    sancti  Evangelii 
according  to  Matthew.  secundum  Matthseum. 


Ch.  I. 

When  Mary,  the  Mother  of 
Jesus,  was  espoused  to  Jo- 
seph, before  they  came  to- 
gether, she  was  found  with 
child  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Whereupon  Joseph  her  hus- 
band, being  a  just  man,  and 
not  willing  publicly  to  expose 
her,  was  minded  to  put  her 
away  privately.  But  while 
he  thought  on  these  things, 
behold  the  Angel  of  the  Lord 
appeared  to  him  in  his  sleep, 
saying:  Joseph,  son  of  David, 
fear  not  to  take  unto  thee' 
Mary  thy  wife,  for  that 
which  is  conceived  in  her  is 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  And  she 
shall  bring  forth  a  Son  :  and 
thou  shalt  call  his  name 
Jesus  ;  for  he  shall  save  his 
people  from  their  sins. 


Cap.  I. 

Quum  essetdesponsata  ma- 
ter Jesu  Maria  Joseph,  ante- 
quam  convenirent,  inventa 
est  in  utero  habens  de  Spi- 
ritu  Sancto.  Joseph  autem 
vir  ejus,  quum  esset  Justus, 
et  nollet  earn  traducere,  vo- 
luit  occulte  dimittere  earn. 
Hsec  autem  eo  cogitante, 
ecce  Angelus  Domini  appa- 
ruit  in  somnis  ei,  dicens  : 
Joseph,  fili  David,  noli  timere 
accipere  Mariam  conjugem 
tuam  :  quod  enim  in  ea  na- 
tum  est,_  de  Spiritu  Sancto 
est.  Pariet  autem  filium  :  et 
vocabis  nomen  ejus  Jesum  : 
ipse  enim  salvum  faciet  po- 
pulum  suum  a  peccatis  eo- 
rum. 


OFFERTORY. 


Lift  up  your  gates,  O  ye 
princes,  and  be  ye  lifted  up, 
O  eternal  gates :  and  the  King 
of  glory  shall  enter  in. 


Tollite  portas,  principes 
vestras,  et  elevamini,  porta? 
aeternales  :  et  introibit  Rex 
glorise. 


542  ADVENT. 


SECRET. 


Da  nobis,  quaesumus,  om-  Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  O 

nipotens  Deus :  ut  sicut  ado-  almighty  God,  that    as  we 

randa  Filii  tui  natalitia  prse-  celebrate  the  eve  of  the  ado- 

venimus ;    sic   ejus    munera  rable  Birth  of  thy  Son  :  we 

capiamus    sempiterna    gau-  may  one  day  receive  with  joy 

dentes.     Qui  tecum.  his  eternal  rewards.      Who 

liveth,  &c. 

During  the  Communion,  the  Church  expresses  her 
joy  at  receiving,  in  the  Eucharistic  Sacrament,  Him 
whose  flesh  purifies  and  nourishes  ours.  She  is 
strengthened,  by  the  consolation  given  to  her  by  the 
divine  Food,  to  wait  yet  a  little  longer  for  that  happy 
moment,  in  which  Angels  will  come  and  invite  her 
to  the  Crib  of  the  Messias. 


COMMUNION. 

Revelabitur  gloria  Do-  The  glory  of  the  Lord  shall 
mini :  et  videbit  omnis  caro  be  revealed  :  and  all  flesh 
Salutare  Dei  nostri.  shall  see  the  salvation  of  our 

God 


POSTCOMMTJNION. 

Da  nobis,  quaesumus,  Do-  Grant  us,  we  beseech  thee, 

mine,  unigeniti  Filii  tui  re-  0  Lord,  relief  by  celebrating 

censita  Nativitate  respirare  :  the  Birth  of  thy  Only  Son, 

cujus  ccelesti  Mysterio  pas-  whose  sacred  mystery  is  our 

cimur,     et    potamur.       Per  meat  and  drink.      Through, 

eumdem.  &c. 

The  Ambrosian  and  Mozarabic  Liturgies  have 
nothing  in  their  Office  and  Mass  for  this  Vigil  which 
we  deem  telling  enough  for  insertion  here.  In  the 
Anthology  of  the  Greeks  there  is  a  Hymn,  which 
will  assist  our  devotion,  and  from  which  we  take  the 
following  stanzas.  It  is  called :  The  beginning  of 
the  Hours  of  the  Nativity  :  Tierce,  Sext,  and  None. 


DEC.  2  k      CHRISTMAS  EVE. 


.43 


HYMN   FOR  THE  VIGIL   OF   CHRISTMAS. 

(Taken  from  the  Anthology  of  the  Greeks.) 


On  a  certain  day,  there 
was  enrolled  at  Bethlehem, 
together  with  the  old  man 
Joseph,  as  being  of  the  fa- 
mily of  David,  Mary,  who 
bore  in  her  virginal  womb 
the  divine  fruit.  The  time  of 
her  delivery  was  come,  and 
there  was  no  place  in  the 
inn  ;  and  instead  of  a  splen- 
did palace  for  the  Queen, 
there  was  but  a  cave. 

The  moment  is  come  for 
the  accomplishment  of  the 
mystic  prophecy :  "And  thou 
Bethlehem,  land  of  Juda, 
art  not  the  least'  among  the 
princes,  for  thou  art  the  first 
to  adorn  the  Cave.  For  there 
shall  come  to  me  from  thee 
the  leader  of  the  Nations, 
born  of  a  Virgin-Maid  accord- 
ing to  the  flesh  ;  it  is  Christ, 
who  is  God,  and  he  shall  rule 
his  new  people  of  Israel." 
Let  us  all  give  him  highest 
praise. 

This  is  our-  God,  and  there 
is  none  other;  he  was  born 
of  a  Virgin,  and  he  conversed 
with  men ;  the  Only  Begotten 
Son  becomes  Mortal,  and  is 
laid  in  a  poor  crib  ;  the  Lord 
of  glory  is  wrapped  in  swad- 
dling-clothes :  the  star  in- 
vites the  Magi  to  adore  him, 
and  let  us  sing  :  0  Holy 
Trinity,  save  our  souls  ! 

Come,  all  ye  faithful :  let 
us  be  transported  with  divine 
enthusiasm  ;  let  us  look  at 
God  coming  in  a  visible  form 
from  on  high  and  descending 


Inscribebatur  die  quadam 
cum  sene  Joseph,  tanquam 
ex  semine  David,  in  Bethle- 
hem, Maria,  sine  semine 
foetum  utero  gestans  ;  adve- 
nerat  pariendi  temp  us,  et 
nullus  erat  in  diversorio  lo- 
cus, sed  pro  splendido  paktio 
spelunca  Reginse  aderat. 


Adimpleri  nunc  urget  pro- 
pheticum  praeconium  mystice 
nuncians  :  Et  tn,  Bethlehem, 
terra  Juda,  nequaquam  mi- 
nima es  in  principibus,  prima 
adornans  speluncam.  Ex  te 
enim  niihi  veniet  dux  gen- 
tium, per  carnem  ex  puella 
Virgine,  Christus  Deus  qui 
reget  populum  suum  novum 
Israel.  Demus  ei  omnes  mag- 
nificentiam. 


Iste  Deus  noster,  prseter 
eura  non  numerabitur  alius, 
natus  ex  Virgine  et  cum  ho- 
minibus  conversatus :  in  pau- 
perculo  jacens  prsesepio  Fi- 
lms Unigenitus  mortalis  ap- 
paret,  et  fasciis  implicatur 
glorise  Dominus  :  Stella  Ma- 
gis  indicat  ut  ilium  adorent, 
nosque  canamus  :  Trinitas 
sancta,  salva  animas  nostras. 

Venite,  fideles  :  divinitus 
extollamur,  Deumque  videa- 
mus  ex  alto  in  Bethlehem 
manifeste  descendentem,  et 
sursum    mentem    elevantes, 


544 


ADVENT. 


pro  myrrlia  vita?  afferamus 
virtutes,  praeordinantes  cum 
fide  natalitmm  introitum,  et 
dicamus  :  Gloria  in  excelsis 
Deo  qui  trinus  est,  cujus  erga 
homines  manifestatur  bene- 
volentia !  qui  Adam  redimens 
et  plasma  tuum  elevasti,  phi- 
lanthrope ! 


Audi,  coelum,  et  auribus 
percipe,  terra  :  commovean- 
tur  fundamenta  orbis,  tre- 
morem  apprehendant  ter- 
restria  ;  quia  Deus  et  auctor 
carnis  plasmatis  formam 
induit,  et  qui  creaturam 
creatrice  corroboravit  manu, 
misericordia  motus  videtur 
forma  indutus.  O  divitiarum 
sapientise  scientiseque  Dei 
abyssus  !  quam  inscrutabilia 
illius  judicia,  et  investigabiles 
viae  ejus  ! 


Venite,  Christiferi  populi, 
videamus  prodigium  omnem 
stupefaciens  et  cohibens  eogi- 
tationem,  et  pie  procumben- 
tes  cum  fide  hymnificemus. 
Hodie  ad  Bethlehem  puella 
advenit  paritura  Dominum  ; 
praecurrunt  Angelorum  chori: 
illamque  videns  Joseph 
sponsus  ejus  clamabat:  Quid- 
nam  in  te  prodigiosum  mys- 
terium,  Virgo  1  Et  quomodo 
parturire  debes,  jugi  expers 
juvenca  % 


into  Bethlehem  ;  then  raising 
up  our  minds,  let  us  bring 
to  him  our  virtues  as  the 
myrrh  we  offer  him,  thus  pre- 
paring, with  faith,  for  his 
Birth  among  us  :  let  us  sing, 
Glory  in  the  highest  be  to 
God,  one  in  three  Persons, 
whose  good-will  to  man  is 
thus  made  manifest !  for 
thou,  O  Jesus  !  the  Lover  of 
man,  hast  redeemed  Adam 
and  restored  the  work  of  thy 
hands ! 

Hear,  O  ye  heavens,  and 
give  ear,  O  earth  !  let  the 
foundations  of  the  earth  be 
moved,  and  all  the  earth 
tremble  :  for  God  the  maker 
of  man  has  himself  put  on  a 
created  form,  and  He  whose 
creative  hand  upheld  his  crea- 
tures, has,  by  mercy  moved, 
clothed  himself  with  a  body. 
O  the  depth  of  the  riches  of 
the  wisdom  and  of  the  know- 
ledge of  God  !  How  incom- 
prehensible are  his  judg- 
ments, and  how  unsearchable 
his  ways  ! 

O  come,  ye  Christian  peo- 
ple !  let  us  see  the  prodigy 
that  stupefies  all  thought 
and  holds  it  in  suspense  ; 
then  let  us  devoutly  adore, 
and  sing  our  hymns  with 
hearts  full  of  faith.  This 
day  there  hath  come  to  Beth- 
lehem a  Maid  that  is  to  give 
birth  to  God !  Choirs  of 
Angels  are  already  there  ! 
Joseph,  her  Spouse,  seeing 
her,  has  already  received  his 
answer  to  his  question :  What 
is  this  mystery  which  I  see 
in  thee,  pure  Virgin  ]  How 
canst  thou  bring  forth,  that 


DEC.    24.      CHRISTMAS   EYE. 


545 


never  hast  borne  a  mother's 
humiliation  1 

This  day,  there  is  born  of 
a  Virgin,  He  that  holds  in 
his  hand  the  whole  creation. 
He  whose  very  essence  'tis 
to  be  untangible,  is  become 
mortal  and  is  bound  in  swath- 
ing-bands.  He  who,  of  old, 
in  the  beginning,  poised  and 
set  the  heavens,  is  laid  in  a 
manger.  He  who  rained 
down  Manna  on  his  people 
in  the  desert,  is  fed  with 
milk  at  his  Mother's  breast. 
The  Spouse  of  the  Church 
invites  the  Magi ;  the  Son  of 
the  Virgin  accepts  their  gifts. 
We  adore  thy  Nativity,  O 
Jesus !  show  unto  us  thy 
divine  manifestations. 


Hodie  nascitur  ex  Virgine 
qui  pugillo  omnem  creaturam 
continet  :  panniculis  sicut 
mortalis  fasciatur  qui  essen- 
tia intactibilis  est;  Deus  in 
praesepio  reclinatur,  qui  olim 
in  principio  ccelos  stabilivit ; 
ex  uberibus  lacte  nutritur  per 
quern  in  deserto  manna  plue- 
bat  populo  ;  Magos  advocat 
Sponsus  Ecclesise  ;  dona  il- 
lorum  accipit  Virginis  Filius. 
Adoramus  tuam  Nativita- 
tem,  Christe  ;  ostende  nobis 
tuas  divinas  Theophanias. 


Let  us  contemplate  our  Blessed  Lady,  and  her 
faithful  Spouse  Joseph,  leaving  the  city  of  Jerusalem, 
and  continuing  their  journey  to  Bethlehem,  which 
they  reach  after  a  ipw  hours.  In  obedience  to  the 
will  of  heaven,  they  immediately  repair  to  the  place 
where  their  names  are  to  be  enrolled,  as  the  Em- 
peror's edict  requires.  There  is  entered  in  the  public 
register,  Joseph,  a  carpenter  of  Nazareth  in  Galilee. 
To  his  name,  there  is,  doubtless,  added  that  of  Mary, 
Spouse  of  the  above-named  Joseph.  Perhaps  they 
enter  her  as  a  young  woman,  in  the  ninth  month 
of  her  pregnancy.  And  this  is  all ! — O  Incarnate 
Word  !  thou  art  not  yet  counted  by  men  !  Thou  art 
upon  this  earth  of  thine,  and  men  set  thee  down  as 
nothing !  And  yet,  all  this  excitement  of  the  enrol- 
ment of  the  world  is  to  be  for  nothing  else  but  this, — 
that  Mary,  thy  august  Mother,  may  come  to  Beth- 
lehem, and  there  give  thee  Birth ! 

O  ineffable  Mystery !  how  grand  is  this  apparent 
littleness !  how  mighty  this  divine  weakness  !     But 

2n 


546  ADVENT. 

God  has  still  lower  to  descend  than  merely  coming 
on  our  earth.  He  goes  from  house  to  house  of  his 
people :  not  one  will  receive  him.  He  must  go  and 
seek  a  crib  in  the  stable  of  poor  dumb  beasts.  There, 
until  such  time  as  the  Angels  sing  to  him  their 
hymn,  and  the  Shepherds  and  the  Magi  come  with 
their  offerings,  he  will  meet  "the  ox  that  knoweth 
"  its  Owner,  and  the  ass  that  knoweth  its  Master's 
"  crib!"1  O  Saviour  of  men,  Emmanuel,  Jesus!  we, 
too,  will  go  to  this  stable  of  Bethlehem.  Thy  New 
Birth,  which  is  to-night,  shall  not  be  without  loving 
and  devoted  hearts  to  bless  it.  At  this  very  hour, 
thou  art  knocking  at  the  doors  of  Bethlehem,  and 
who  is  there  that  will  take  thee  iu  ?  Thou  sayest  to 
my  soul  in  the  words  of  the  Canticle  :  "  Open  to  me, 
"  my  sister,  my  beloved !  for  my  head  is  full  of  dew, 
"and  my  locks  of  the  drops  of  the  night!"2  Ah  ! 
sweet  Jesus  !  thou  shalt  not  be  refused  here  !  I  be- 
seech thee,  enter  my  house.  I  have  been  watching 
and  longing  for  thee.  Gome,  then,  Lord  Jesus ! 
come  ! 3 


1  Is.  i.  3.  2  Cant.  v.  2.  3  Apoc.  xxii.  20. 


END   OF   ADVENT. 


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